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Imperial Artisans ... The Painters, Crafters & Writers Guilds => The Brush and Palette => Topic started by: Naitsabes on March 29, 2014, 05:51:44 AM

Title: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 29, 2014, 05:51:44 AM
One of my favorite Warhammer moments was opening up that four page spread in the then new 8th edition BRB and being in awe of the massive battle at the walls of this “lesser-known” Empire city. In a nutshell: In the year 2515 a massive Chaos invasion threatens Ostland (what’s new?) and it culminates in the attack on the city of Volganov.  I’ve long dreamed of re-playing this battle but there is the minor detail of the massive scale and of course it takes two to tango. Now I’ve found a partner-in-crime for the Chaos side and this blog will chronicle the long (certainly bumpy and potentially windy) road towards playing this battle from the Empire perspective. Eventually there will be a companion blog for the Chaos side (LINK TO BE ADDED). Will we make it? Men much madder than us have succeeded in their endeavors, just look around this section of the forum. But I don’t have a blow dryer so who knows.

This blog will help me get organized; I welcome any and all comments, criticism, words of encouragement or wisdom. Eventually, there will be lots of (rather mediocre) painting to see and lots of kit-bashing, maybe some of it useful as inspiration. All this mixed in with random thoughts and musings about how to approach this project and Empire models in general.

Before I lose my readership with more rambling, let’s get started:
Units from different provinces came to the defense of Volganov. Here is Captain Rudolf, the fearless leader of Rudolf’s Rudel, a Halberdier regiment from Nordland.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0091.jpg~original)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0086.jpg)

...and some close-ups of back rankers that I like to think worked out well.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0088.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0089.jpg)
I really like the "ugliest mug" contest going on in the last picture :biggriin: The guy on the left clearly lost but the other two are strong contenders...

I’ll leave it at that for now. Cheers. Naitsabes.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Naitsabes on March 29, 2014, 05:52:15 AM
last update 29Aug2015
BOLD = required
GREEN = ready to go
RED  = anything from still on the store shelf to primed and halfway painted

Volganov City Guard (3000pts)
Oleg von Raukov
Sergov Pfeiffer (Lv1 Fire)
Klaus Solmann (Lv4 Heaven)
Baron von Blutten
Captain Schwarzhelb
60 Stalwart Bulls (Greatswords)
30 Gryphon Guard A
30 Gryphon Guard B
40 Reinforcement Spearmen

 40 Reinforcement Halberdiers
40 Reinforcement Swordsmen
2 Steam Tanks
17 Knights of the Golden Griffon
Captain of the Golden Griffon
 3x 10 Crossbowman
3x 10 Handgunner
2 Priests
2 Captains
2 Battle Wizards (Lv2)
40 City Halberdiers
40 City Spearmen
Hurricanum
Helblaster Volley Gun
Engineer

Artillery of Volganov (1500pts)
Kannonmeister Gunther Trundlekopf (Engineer)
Ol' Puddings (Cannon)
Spinning Bertha (Helblaster)

5 cannons
2 Mortars[/color]
4 cannons
1 Mortars

Ostland
30 Kludburgh Militia
20 Volgar's Shadomen (Huntsmen)
Volgar (Captain)
50 Flagellants of the Forest of Shadow
50 Scarlet Curs (Halberdiers)
Vasili von Raukov


Other Provinces
Volkman (Captain)
50 "Bechafen" Halberdiers
30 "Blackhats of Talabheim" (Swordsmen)


Altlangen Contingent (Captain + 1000pts core + 500pts special)
Baron Beckdorf[/color]
2x 10 Handgunner
31 Spearmen
30 Swordsmen
6 Knights (FC)
6 Knights (musician)
24 Altlanger Greatswords+FC+Standard of Disciplin
12 Swordsmen (Detachment)
5 Pistoliers (music+champ+repeater)

Relief Column (1500pts mounted)
Kurt Helborg
Ludvig Schwartzhelm
45 1st Reiksguard
45 2nd Reiksguard
Valmir von Raukov
Raukov Battle Standard
[/color]
color=red]10 Raukov Household Knights[/color]
6 Knights
3 Demigryph Knights
3 Demigryph Knights
2 Pegasus Captain
Pegasus Captain
6 Outriders
5 Pistoliers
Luminark
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Naitsabes on March 29, 2014, 05:52:36 AM
reserved for armylist
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Ad A Dglgmut on March 29, 2014, 01:52:49 PM
I love the color scheme and how varied it is and how light in color it is without being all white.  I also like how you used the 6th edition handgunners to make halberdiers.  I don't think I've ever seen that done before.  One thing that bugs me though is some are holding their halberds with the blade backwards.  It doesn't really matter in the end, but it looks a bit odd (especially on the one looking like he is about to swing it).

That aside, I look forward to your future updates!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Zak on March 29, 2014, 02:11:26 PM
very nice love the color combinations keep up the good work sir  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Albrecht Hexenjaeger on March 29, 2014, 10:30:38 PM
I agree, great colors! Nice work!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Gankom on March 30, 2014, 12:24:20 AM
Always love watching an army grow into epic proportions.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Naitsabes on March 30, 2014, 09:38:07 PM
well, yes, the plan is to end up with epic proportions indeed! I am starting from ~10K of finished models but not all is usable in the Volganov list (looks sadly at the Griffon rider).

I love the color scheme and how varied it is and how light in color it is without being all white.  I also like how you used the 6th edition handgunners to make halberdiers.  I don't think I've ever seen that done before.  One thing that bugs me though is some are holding their halberds with the blade backwards.  It doesn't really matter in the end, but it looks a bit odd (especially on the one looking like he is about to swing it).

That aside, I look forward to your future updates!
I will not claim coming up with the handgunner to halberdier idea, more than likely I saw it on this forum. This place is full of good stuff like that. It's a very useful conversion to fill out units on a budget. The backward blade is a keen observation. I shall claim they are getting ready to unhorse knights...isn't that what these hooks were supposedly for?

okay then, the Great Muster begins. I’ve started compiling the Army list (see above). I do have quite a few painted Empire models. But, at this point not a single one in Ostland black-white. The Volganov City Guard proper should certainly be in that color but, I decided to change the Ferlangen Contingent into an Altlangen Contingent (Altlangen, the Altdorf exclave a little bit up the Talabec River, ruled by Baron Beckdorff, I am sure you’ve heard of it). This way I get to field a lot of my current models. Now, these guys start the game way out in the field near the city gallows surrounded by the vast Chaos horde. And, it’s 1500pts of core/special with no character except for one Captain. In other words, they are in deep trouble. As such I thought this model with the defiant ‘angry fist in the air’ pose would be fitting for Baron Beckdorff (not sure why my younger self painted the sword in this weird rust tone).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0110.jpg?t=1396211790)
Here is most of the contingent. Baron Beckdorff will lead the infamous Altlanger Greatswords and I have no doubt they will valiantly stand their ground to the last man. Not so sure about the rest of the gang. Steadfast or not Ld7 will only last so long.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0109.jpg?t=1396211713)

Two of the better Greatsword conversion. The current goldswords just lack a little bit of armor for my taste.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0113.jpg?t=1396211917)

Life in the back rank: Here they were just having a nice swig from the bottle when Bobo opened the flask then nice cloaked stranger gave him last night…
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0112.jpg?t=1396211861)

And a close up on some knights. These are “Gamezone” horses, I really like them. They are metal and come with huge gaps so takes a little bit of work but well worth it.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0115.jpg?t=1396211968)

Thanks for your interest and kind words. Cheers. Naitsabes

p.s. anybody have a suggestion how to make the hundreds of shields with the Ostland bull? I have done some minor castings of tidbits but I wouldn't even know what to start from. Rumor has it there is a Bretonian shield with a bull, does anyone have a picture? or better idea?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Shadespyre on March 30, 2014, 10:42:03 PM
Like this:

(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/Shadespyre/WARHAMMER/Middenheim%20Empire%20Army/DSC01275_zps09960759.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Naitsabes on March 30, 2014, 10:49:44 PM
well yes! I have two arms and two legs, how many shields will that get me?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Hoodling on March 31, 2014, 02:30:48 AM
I salute your noble (and mad) intentions. The Volganov stuff was definitely the highlight in the big rulebook.

Depending on how involved this is going to be, it might be worth your while setting up an actual blogger or wordpress blog so you can keep it all together and better control how it's presented. Would let your Chaos counterpart contribute to the same place too if you wanted.

Just a thought. Keep painting!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Commander Bernhardt on March 31, 2014, 08:46:19 AM
As a fellow Ostlander I am very excited about this blog and will follow with interest!
The shield Shadespyre showed is indeed the infamous OOP bretonnian bull shield. It's not very easy to find.
But if you do, try to get some instant mold* and make simple green stuff copies of it. It's what I've done for my swordsmen and once painted you can't tell the difference between the real deal and the copies.



* don't buy actual instant mold, go on ebay and search for oyumaru, it's the same thing only that the hobby stores charge about four to five times more for it.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Shadespyre on March 31, 2014, 06:07:52 PM
I have just one of these, but I'm happy to send it or a mold made from it if that'll get the job done for you?

I'm making the shields for my vampire army like this, it's time consuming but definitely plausible :)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Naitsabes on April 01, 2014, 08:55:09 AM
I salute your noble (and mad) intentions. The Volganov stuff was definitely the highlight in the big rulebook.

Depending on how involved this is going to be, it might be worth your while setting up an actual blogger or wordpress blog so you can keep it all together and better control how it's presented. Would let your Chaos counterpart contribute to the same place too if you wanted.

Just a thought. Keep painting!
wow, Mr. Hoodling, Sir! I really enjoyed your manly-sized games and the way you present them to the world, certainly a big inspiration. I had thought about a standalone blog but I think I get more interest and feedback here. I mean it's not like I am setting up the Battle of the Gates of Kislev :wink:  will definitely revisit the blog idea when I have more content.


Commander Bernhardt, at this point I am really only a Ostland wannabe (although I did paint my first Ostland model, see below). I do have instant mold. Sort of a rite of passage for a certain generation of empire players to make a mold from a certain hip armor piece  :icon_smile:

I have just one of these, but I'm happy to send it or a mold made from it if that'll get the job done for you?

I'm making the shields for my vampire army like this, it's time consuming but definitely plausible :)
Are you sure you would want to ship that valuable shield across the ocean? I'd love to have it here, make some molds and then send it back to you (along with some thank you bits if I have anything Empire-related you are interested in). That would be really awesome!

..and here is my first Volganov Defender (born and raised in that very place):
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0116.jpg?t=1396254926)
I am not too happy with the paint job, white and black are really not too amenable to my typical copious use of washes and glazes. maybe I get the hang of it.  any wise words of advice (preferably not containing "layering", "blending" or other scary stuff)

EDIT: looks like this gentleman: http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum/index.php?topic=47345.25 (http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum/index.php?topic=47345.25) has found a supplier for a slightly different shield. interesting!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Irishzero on April 01, 2014, 01:50:15 PM
As a fellow Ostlander I think it looks good. You have a more "used look" in your ostland scheme, like it alot. Think my own style is more crisp and gives the impression of a new uniform. Anyways really like this thread so far:) :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Hoodling on April 01, 2014, 11:37:51 PM
You might not be super-happy with that guy, but if you can produce an entire army to that standard, I would have said you were doing very well indeed.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: -SaH- on April 02, 2014, 08:23:13 AM
Nice collection, but the regiment from Nordland - they are stunningly! Beautiful colour scheme!
You are very good in bright colours!

Wish You the best in fullfilling this plan ! :)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 8Apr, cannons)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 09, 2014, 04:48:09 AM
Hey everyone!

thanks for your interest and encouraging words.

Here is my first cannon+crew.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0117.jpg?t=1397012274)
 I suppose that’s technically the first complete unit in Ostland colors. I am slowly warming up to the black-white scheme. I am using mostly P3 colors and overall I am pretty happy with them but, it turns out the white isn’t all that great. It took 3-4 coats to get the cannon all gleaming and that’s 2-3 coats too many considering the bricks of state troopers in my future. I suppose I should get one of these uber-pigment GW paints. Would that do it?

While we are looking at cannons, here are a (slightly fuzzy) cannon and helblaster from Nordland bolstering the defences of Volganov.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0081.jpg?t=1397018626)

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0090.jpg?t=1396932360)
The Helblaster might be small and old but it’s mean!

Gamewise, I can put warmachines into the City Guard proper as well as the Artillery contingent. Since I can’t take engineers in the latter this seems like the place for the regular cannons while the helblasters and their babysitters come out of the regular army budget.

upward and onward!!

EDIT: how do I modify the title of the thread? would like to add some 'update note'
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: StealthKnightSteg on April 09, 2014, 07:06:45 AM
nice work!

you can edit the title of the thread by editting the first posts subject line
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: The Ol Perfesser on April 09, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
 :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: GamesPoet on April 09, 2014, 11:24:30 AM
Some classically good stuff here! :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov
Post by: Naitsabes on April 09, 2014, 10:42:01 PM
nice work!

you can edit the title of the thread by editting the first posts subject line

hah, I learned something new today!

also, getting a little drunk on all the beverages here  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 8Apr2014 - cannons 'n' friends)
Post by: Albrecht Hexenjaeger on April 10, 2014, 12:28:55 AM
 :::cheers::: Drink one on me too!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 8Apr2014 - cannons 'n' friends)
Post by: Lateksimajava on April 27, 2014, 09:29:53 AM
I like your cannon crew a lot! Also great kitbashing with the halberdiers. Looking forward to see some more!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 8Apr2014 - cannons 'n' friends)
Post by: klunc on April 27, 2014, 11:52:19 AM
For the shields, check out Durloth's blog here - http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum/index.php?topic=47345.100

He had found a chap in the UK who was doing the Bull shields, Hayter Minifigures - http://www.facebook.com/HayterMinifigures

I have since contacted the same guy to get some for my project. His price I believe is 45 pence a shield, so it's much cheaper than buying bretonnian ones off ebay.

Hoping that's helpful!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 8Apr2014 - cannons 'n' friends)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 28, 2014, 12:13:37 AM
minor update.

klunc, I am (barely) one step ahead of you and ordered those shields last week. By now I hope they got loaded on a steamer in Liverpool and are headed my way. I did try to pitch to Mr. Hayter that he should design some more bull-inspired shields (like bull head from the side, entire bull etc.). He said the bull head shields weren't exactly flying off his shelf and hence he was hesitant to spend time on it. But, maybe that was before you placed your order.

in the meantime, my earlier plea for the Bretonnian shields was very successful. kind people from around the world sent their shields and I started up the factory (no child labor involved...but tempting, this would be the right job for tiny little hands  :engel: ).

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_01191.jpg?t=1398555175)

the painted shield is green stuff (still struggling with the white). looks good to me. then there are two ready-for-paint and a few that need to be cleaned up. I am wondering how many castings I can do from each mold. anyone wants to venture a guess? it's not hard to remake the mold and I think there is room for improvement there as well. currently there is too much green stuff wastage.

also, I did get lucky on ebay. this should sort my bits needs for the foreseeable future:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0118.jpg)

There'll be more painted models in my next update. upward and onward! cheers. Sebastian
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 27Apr2014 - shields'n'bits)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 27, 2014, 12:51:05 AM
So no interest in shields…guys, think about it, that’s half of what you see of the model from the front. Pretty important. I have received some of the Hayden Miniatures shields. They are slightly larger than the GW ones (which I don’t like) but the bull looks cool. I think I’ll use the round version on a knight unit and a mix of kite versions on the infantry.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0122.jpg)

On to the meat of this update, here are some Swordsmen coming to the defense of Volganov!
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0133.jpg?t=1401149538)
 To the right are more Altdorfers. The detachment clearly shows that men of all sizes are welcome to defend the Empire. The metal plug-in guys (first one on the left) are still some of my favorite x-bow sculpts. On the left are the Gold Heads of the Talabec. They are proudly presenting the red Ottilian Eagle on their shields so that should make for some interesting times in the taverns of Volganov. The regimental colors honor the legendary founder of the regiment.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0131.jpg?t=1401149265)
Full frontal. The Gold Heads are led by the fearless Captain Beresov. Many a foe has underestimated how quick he is with that little hatchet. Beresov had retired to his family farm on the Talabec but, when the count requested his service he answered the call. Now they march north against the tide of refugees.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0130.jpg?t=1401149410)
Here they are in the soft light of sunset (this is me struggling with the camera. One day “f-stop” I shall conquer you. Just not today.)

Besides the assembly line of Swordsmen I had to do something creative so tried my hands at the man himself, Valmir von Raukov. Of course there is this classic model:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/mountedboyarB_small.jpg)
This was one of my first GW purchases, spend 15 hard earned deutschmarks. In those days with the likes of Nagash walking the earth quite regularly it seemed like a good idea to have a character that could shoot them from a safe distance with an awesome magic bow. Never quite worked out too well as far as I can remember. Anyway, the model (much like its owner) hasn’t aged too well. It’s too 2D and one can barely see that famous bow. And, the head + hat are way to Kislev for my liking. Here is what I came up with:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0121.jpg)
I quite like him. I am unsure about adding a shield. Gamewise, all the cool kids of the Empire skip it, so shouldn’t he? Modelwise, I don’t want to cover him up too much, OTOH it would be nice to hide is dainty little Elf hand. Maybe a little buckler-type shield? Thoughts?

Upward and onward. Sebastian
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 26May2014 - Swordsmen)
Post by: Hoodling on May 27, 2014, 02:16:08 AM
The conversion looks good - far more dynamic than the old guy (whom I still like). I wouldn't bother with a shield, or if you must I would hang it from the saddle somewhere, out of the way. He couldn't possibly make good use of that bow with a shield in the way.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 26May2014 - Swordsmen)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 18, 2014, 11:51:02 PM
Alright, summer is winding down. I did some painting but, the stars need to align before taking pictures. In the meantime, I do have some pictures from a recent ‘Warm up for Volganov’ game I played. This was 12K (+3K of monsters as per Storm of Magic). Some might call this merely a ‘decent-sized’ game but, by our standards it was epic. We had a blast and I am happy to report the Empire carried the day quite decisively. However, quite a few brave halberdiers won’t make it home such is the way of the warhammer world

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_2935.jpg)
Here we are, arrayed for battle.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_2980.jpg)
so many (beautifully painted) chaos warriors

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_3044.jpg)

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_3048.jpg)
a vicious greater dragon looking for the next meal

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_3061.jpg)
after breaking through my lines, the last skull crusher rides into a hail of lead

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_3065.jpg?t=1408404551)
the confusion of wings is two dragons duking it out. I tipped the scale a bit by throwing in a grand master, hurricanum, war altar and halberdiers with BSB...not the kitchen sink though.

Some thoughts on large games (blatantly not painting related):
-   The rules scale quite well. We did do 4D6 for magic, played for 10 turns and allowed triple marching outside of 24” but that’s about it and it worked out well.
-   A big table is key to allow maneuvering and in particular a deep table so units have a chance to move about behind the lines. We used a 12x6 table. We didn’t allow deployment within 18” of the short sides to enable flanking maneuvers and force us into forming multiple battle lines.
-   It’s a huge time commitment (in fact that’s what’s keeping us from doing this more often). Setup 3 hours, ~15 hours of gaming, 2 hours for take-down. We spread it over three days
Would be curious to hear about other people’s experiences.
Upward and onward. Sebastian
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 18Aug2014 - warm up game)
Post by: Hoodling on August 19, 2014, 12:06:44 AM
That is an impressive number of very nicely painted models. Well done.

Were there only 2 of you playing? It's a lot of stuff to move by yourselves. I've found you really want more than 1 player per side if you're going to be using more than about 10K on either side.

Is there a particular reason why you played for 10 turns? It's a lot more turns than a normal game, and you were not deploying any further apart than normal.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 18Aug2014 - warm up game)
Post by: Zak on August 19, 2014, 12:37:34 AM
 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: awesome!! always nice seeing painted armies
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 18Aug2014 - warm up game)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 19, 2014, 06:06:23 AM
thanks guys!

yes, as long as you stay far enough away everything does look nice. that's what I am aiming for.

Were there only 2 of you playing? It's a lot of stuff to move by yourselves. I've found you really want more than 1 player per side if you're going to be using more than about 10K on either side.
there was only two of us. While we did consider having lieutenants it's a bit hard to find those around here. Everyone is either a tournament player or into the painting side of things and neither group seems to want to go beyond 3hrs of gaming.

Is there a particular reason why you played for 10 turns? It's a lot more turns than a normal game, and you were not deploying any further apart than normal.
our philosophy is that we don't want this be just a series of smaller battles side-by-side. by playing extra turns we hoped it would give the time for some strategic maneuvering, e.g. overpowering a flank and then moving to the middle and affecting the outcome in a meaningful way. there is more ground to cover when the board is 12 feet wide. the extra depth also means it takes longer to take down the juicy war machines and it does give more room to fall back.

in our game I think the extra turns worked out well. I don't exactly recall at what stage we were in turn six but there certainly still was a lot of fight left in both of us at that point. At the end of ten turns chaos was down to a number of models comparable to what you'd see in a regular sized games.

We do wonder how the extra turns affect game balance. more time for war machines to shoot? or can you take them down and then have time for monsters come out of hiding and rampage? would it make undead and their summoning spells more powerful? it's fun to think about. hard to judge from the few games we've played.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 18Aug2014 - warm up game)
Post by: Hoodling on August 19, 2014, 11:03:56 PM
In my experience (although this is generally from many editions ago) the biggest beneficiaries of very long games are the rock-hard characters. They have the resilience to go the distance, and the extra turns give them more time to influence the game (this "avoidance" stuff gets very difficult when you have to keep it up for 10 turns).

You can't find anyone else who wants to take part in big games? That's a bit sad. Most of the gamers I know play a lot of tournaments, but they still get excited when a really large game is in the works.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 18Aug2014 - warm up game)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 07, 2014, 06:29:09 AM
You can't find anyone else who wants to take part in big games? That's a bit sad. Most of the gamers I know play a lot of tournaments, but they still get excited when a really large game is in the works.

it is sad, isn't it! As far as rock-hard characters going the extra mile, this hasn't been a problem for us so far. Our experience is limited to WoC vs Empire so I suppose the rock-hard WoC characters get rocked harder by the cannons whenever they pop out of combat. Your mileage may vary.

in other news...
Update time! Today you’ll be looking at knights. Quite a few of them. But first, here is the proud Elector Count of Ostland, the man, the myth, the legend: Valmir von Raukov in all his painted glory. I left off the shield as suggested. 1+ armor saves are for cowards. I quite like how he came together, just a little unsure about the bow. Going with a funky color was the only way I could come up with to scream “MAGIC”. Eventually I’d like him to lead a unit of Ostland Homeguard knights (in black-white with bull shields).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0144.jpg?t=1410067751)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0143.jpg?t=1410067834)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0142.jpg?t=1410067890)

The Volganov scenario gives me a substantial cavalry force that enters from a flank on a later turn. This is a tentative list:
Kurt Helborg, Ludvig Schwartzhelm
45x 1st Reiksguard
45x 2nd Reiksguard
Valmir von Raukov, Raukov Battle Standard
18 Knights of the Gold Star
Captain of the Golden Star
3x Demigryph Knights
3x Pegasus Captain
6 Outriders
5 Pistoliers
Luminark

Here is the start to the Reiksguard contingent:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0093.jpg)
Kurt and Ludvig should be happy, there isn’t a speck of rust on the armor or dirt on the lances. But…where is the rest of them? Ninety is a bit of a crazy number. I have twelve more painted (not pictured) but that still means I am only a quarter of the way. I think I will work towards getting one unit of 45 done. And then do something else for a while. This will give me a nice knight horde and there aren’t too many of these (on the Northern Hemisphere at least).

These are the mighty Knights of the Gold Star, veterans of many battles against the chaos horde .
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0096.jpg)
And the obligatory little Demigryph unit. I really should get more of these guys, this unit was fun to paint.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0098-1.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0099-1.jpg)

That’s all for now. Back to chipping away at the Reiksguard unit and painting something heretical (and fun) on the side. Hope the pictures are inspirational to some of you.
Upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Warhammer-Weib on September 07, 2014, 07:31:27 AM
Excellent paint job on your Elector Count!  :eusa_clap:

I like the yellow bow as an additional feature / colour.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: errantgamer on September 07, 2014, 09:41:04 AM
Can I ask how you painted your Demigryphs' skin? I really like the colour but have been struggling to achieve it myself on my own demigryphs.

Fantastic work overall  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Shadespyre on September 07, 2014, 11:59:53 AM
You're really planning to paint 120 cavalry? Good luck with that, I've got maybe 40 Knights and I'd happily never touch another one!

Very interested by your comments on big games. We play an annual Christmas game, usually about 10k points a side over a weekend, but we use only a 10x4 table (due to space restrictions) and it really is hard to deploy and manoeuvre all those troops.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Bishmeister on September 07, 2014, 01:29:28 PM
Inspiring job on Von Raukov, I may have to do one myself. Fantastic looking game, great to see so many painted minis.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 07, 2014, 04:11:21 PM
thanks guys!

the demigryph skin is bleached bone (or whatever the successor is called), heavy devlon mud wash and then gently touch up the raised areas with bleached bone again. sometimes that last step doesn't work out for me (usually because too much paint on the brush). then I just wash again gently. so, simple really.

Shadespyre, grand ambitions, yes! After all if you fulfill your dream it just means you didn't dream big enough :evil: Table size is key I think to allow for some maneuvering. How much you need really depends on the armies. Please post some pictures in due time!

Bishmeister, well, you are Mr. Ostland, he is Mr. Ostland. Clearly the two of you need to get this worked out. And I for one would really like to see the result.

Here are our rules for the big battle:
Quote
Mother of All Battles II – Warm up for Volganov
WHO
12,0000 pts + 3,000 pts Storm of Magic (monsters, pacts, artefacts)
Empire vs Warriors of Chaos

SPECIAL RULES

MARATHON
The turn counter starts at -1, battle ends on turn 8 (i.e. 10 turns total), a 12'x6' table is used, setup as per Battleline Scenario.

GET'EM ON
The first seven deployment drops are two units each.

TOO EARLY TO CALL IT
At the beginning of turn 1 or turn 2 a player can declare that the battle is all but lost already. This player will then get an extra 1000 pts of troops as reserves at the beginning of his next turn, but will have to buy the first round of drinks after the battle. The other player gets 250 pts at the beginning of his next turn but  may make mocking comments.

HOLD THE HILL/TOWER
Six objectives are placed on the battlefield in a mutually agreeable (themed!) manner. One in each deployment zone, one in each half of the no-man's land and two on the middle line. At the end of each player's turn that player will score victory points for held objectives: turn number x50 (if turn number <1 use a factor of 1).

FATE INTERVENES
Each player gets three fate tokens at the start of the game. Each token can be used to re-roll a single die on the following rolls: Look out, Sir. Leadership test. Characteristic test. Armor Save. Ward Save. Flee Distance. Note: As usual you cannot re-roll a reroll.

WHERE IS THE ACTION?
Units can make a march move of 3xM as long as they are staying 24” away from the enemy. Units that normally can't march (e.g. chariots, random movement) double their movement.

TOO FAR
Any effect with unlimited range is changed to 60” range. This includes spells, dispel attempts, items. Reign of Chaos is measured from the Greater Demon or if gone the most expensive demon unit.

WILD MAGIC
See Storm of Magic. Cantrips are available
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Shadespyre on September 07, 2014, 06:09:14 PM
Thanks for sharing those rules, we;ll be organizing Xmashammer 2014 soon and I'll put those up for discussion.

How many players took part in the game btw?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 26May2014 - Swordsmen)
Post by: Henerius on September 07, 2014, 07:03:51 PM
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/IMG_2935.jpg)
Here we are, arrayed for battle.
THIS!!!! 

This is what you do it for. Epic battles...  :::cheers:::

I really enjoyed reading this.  :happy:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: errantgamer on September 07, 2014, 07:19:35 PM
Thanks for the painting advice Naitsabes -- deceptively simple! I'll try it and let you know how I get on.

Excellent and interesting rules set you got there. Buying everyone a drink is surely the best outcome for being a bad general. :)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 07, 2014, 10:37:03 PM
Henerius, yes indeed. Epic-ness is what it's all about!

Thanks for sharing those rules, we;ll be organizing Xmashammer 2014 soon and I'll put those up for discussion.

How many players took part in the game btw?
this was just two players....and some amount of dedication  :wink:
Looking back, I would suggest changing the way you can score points from the objectives. I would make this a constant amount every turn. We did this funky incremental system thinking this would allow for big swings and nail-biting in the later turns but what it does is it helps the guy who is doing well to get further ahead because he typically has more units to claim objectives with.

errantgamer, my painting style is simple. good luck! and yes, beer conquers all.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Hoodling on September 11, 2014, 10:58:47 PM
You're really planning to paint 120 cavalry? Good luck with that, I've got maybe 40 Knights and I'd happily never touch another one!

Don't listen to him, there is nothing wrong with painting 120 cavalry! Although 90 Reiksguard is an awful lot. It might be worth painting the second unit in a different manner so that they'll serve the purpose here, but at other times you can easily use them as something other than Reiksguard. Because let's face it, most games do not require 90 of them. Better to have 45 Inner Circle Knights and 45 Reiksguard, in general.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 13, 2014, 03:47:12 PM
oh, I'm on it! 24 done at the moment. My plan is to do one unit and then rest and recover...with some halberdiers maybe  :roll:

..also I am hoping that White Knight will come to the rescue eventually and there will be some variety for the horses in the second unit (seriously, has there even been a more fitting forum handle?!?)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: The Ol Perfesser on September 13, 2014, 09:06:31 PM
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.
 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 6Sep2014 - knights..and more knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on October 15, 2014, 04:11:29 AM
Thanks, Perfesser!


and now the slow march to Volganov continues…in a twisted sort of way. Careful, heresy below!

Painting Empire is the noblest pursuit of happiness of course but, an occasional break to the dark side of the force helps to keep the edge.

Here is a unit of Khorne Warriors. I really enjoyed converting them…it’s a lot more feasible when a unit is 18 and not 50 guys. Most got some Khorne love in the form of bestial mutations. There are a few Reaper Bones guys in the mix. They come with funny little heads, I changed these to proper heroic scale GW ones.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0179.jpg)

A close-up of a few guys. Chaos Warriors aren’t the easiest to convert, the one foot forward pose is really tiring, beastman bits helped.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0180.jpg)

Here is the Empire at its best: Going against a monstrosity with puffy sleeves and slippers.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0182.jpg)

...which brings us to more wholesome painting, here are a few tester models for the first Volganov halberdier unit. For the Ostland feel I’ve settled on big beards and “sculpting” fur caps (Sculpting is really too big a word for pushing a ball of green stuff on a model's head and poking it with a toothpick for a while). I was playing with different ways of doing the white, I think I found a way that looks reasonable and doesn’t take too long (second from left). And, I experimented with accent colors. Yellow should look good with the red bull shield, what do you think? So yes, the stage is set to do another 49 or so. Ugh.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0184.jpg)

..and work in progress. This will bring the Reiksguard up to 30, only 60 more to go (I am sure you are all keeping track). One would think I should eventually get the hang of doing these sashes but no, every batch is different, some come out fine, some don’t. Sometimes the green stuff seems so sticky and it just turns into a disaster. It might have to do with the yellow:blue ratio (which I wing every time)…or potentially with coffee consumption that day…or possibly both.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0177.jpg)

Unfortunately, my knight supply chain is broken, ebay has not been kind to me lately. After what feels like 75 years of production shouldn’t there be a plethora of knights, cheap as chips? Alas, there isn’t, at least not by my standards. Oh well, halberdiers it is I guess.

Upward and Onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 14Oct2014 - heretical interlude)
Post by: Booah on October 15, 2014, 06:08:35 AM
My plan is to do one unit and then rest and recover...with some halberdiers maybe

You know you've got ambition when you are using halberdiers to recover. That chaos unit is great. So much character compared to the standard unit. And the black and white looks really striking.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 14Oct2014 - heretical interlude)
Post by: Warhammer-Weib on October 15, 2014, 08:32:24 AM
Your Khorne Warriors are looking great. Excellent conversions and paint job!  :eusa_clap:

I also like the halberdier test minis, especially the fur caps and stripes. What's your 'they look good, but it doesn't take too long to paint them' recipe for white?  :unsure:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 14Oct2014 - heretical interlude)
Post by: The Ol Perfesser on October 15, 2014, 09:20:13 AM
Nice conversions (both the Khorne warriors and the Halberdiers).  I think the use of spearman bodies with Halberdier tips works nicely!   I'll have to remember that trick.
 :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 14Oct2014 - heretical interlude)
Post by: Naitsabes on October 17, 2014, 01:34:18 AM
thanks everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment, very motivating for me.

Booah, Dream big, then dream bigger, that's the principle. :biggriin:

Warhammer-Weib, my "way of the white": pallid flesh basecoat, agrax wash, hit it again with a thin layer of pallid flesh (leaving the wash in the recesses), then highlight generously with a plain white. so nothing groundbreaking really. I tried to make it work with building up from bleached bone or grey but that didn't pan out, always looked really uneven and ugly on flat surfaces. I need to leave the real painting to the artists.

Ol Perfesser, when the Empire is in need, everyone can be pressed into service as an halberdier. Spearmen, militia, even old handgunners (see the first post in this plog).  :engel:

Here is a bonus heresy picture I missed in my update, some more khorne warriors. I am on to Sigmar-approved models now, I promise :happy:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0181.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 14Oct2014 - heretical interlude)
Post by: Zak on October 17, 2014, 02:19:33 PM
nice work sir   ::heretic:: ::heretic:: ::heretic:: ::heretic::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 14Oct2014 - heretical interlude)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 10, 2014, 08:05:53 AM
thanks, Zak.

so...Update time!
Today you’ll get to meet one of the units prescribed by the scenario, the Kludburgh militia. This is a unit of 30 Free Company (hey, if it wasn’t for this scenario I don’t think I would have ever made a unit like it). Their town got razed by the advancing chaos horde and the survivors have made their way to Volganov (their special rule: “hatred against Chaos”…I am not convinced it’ll do them any good).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0189.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0189.jpg.html)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0188.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0188.jpg.html)

Here are a few close-ups of the more illustrious survivors:
From the left:
Sir Brun, Knight of the Golden Calf. He survived passed out drunk in the wine cellar of the Kludburgh tavern. After losing his honor, his pride, his destrier and his squire (which he values in this order), Sir Brun decided that it is his knightly duty to lead the Kludburgh militia to their destiny.

Sergeant Frank of the 3rd Ostland Spears. The 3rd got all but annihilated in a separate beastmen attack on the Grimway. After struggling through the forest all alone for two days Frank ceased the opportunity to join the Kludburgh militia when he stumbled upon them.

Silent Bob, the village idiot. During the attack Bob just stood in the middle of the town square with the usual smile on his face and for unknown reason was ignored by the savages that pillaged and murdered everyone around him. He was almost lynched by the Kludburghers afterwards for chaos worshipping (for how else could he have been left untouched) but his innocent smile saved him (yet again?). Bob is now in charge of pulling the cart with all that was worth taking from Kludburgh’s ruins. It is not a heavy load.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0194.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0194.jpg.html)

Hey, this is fun, so one more set, from the left:
Bodo, the Burner. Short and stout from a life of cutting wood and burning charcoal on a diet of mostly cabbage soup, Bodo’s kiln and hut off in the woods was not attacked. But, no town means nobody will buy his charcoal and so Bodo joined in.

Old Petey. He is the sole survivor of an extended family. There is but one thing left to do for Old Petey: shoving the blunderbuss in some abomination’s face and squeezing the trigger.

Oswald. He is a veteran of the Ostland Army and retired to Kludburgh some years ago. Oswald fought valiantly to defend the town but was knocked unconscious and left for dead early on in the attack. He is ready for round two.

Young Helga. She was skinny dipping in the remote Nixen Pond and started running towards Volganov when she saw the smoke billowing up over the trees. Too late to save her family, Helga has sworn not to put back on any clothes until every last Northman invader has been put to the sword. The guys don’t complain.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0191.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0191.jpg.html)

I now realize that Sir Brun should really get Captain stats. Which means I need one more milita man and, this should be a standard bearer. That standard should be suitably gruesome. Maybe the militia would nail trophies to a pole for every chaos thug they hunted down. Our own real world history has plenty of gruesome examples, ears and scalps come to mind but I don’t think I could pull that off skillwise. Maybe hands (and hooves)? What do you think?

Okay, so this picture of the Reiksguard is mostly for my own benefit and to motivate me. I keep telling myself “It’s just one more rank and the first unit is done.”
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0195.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0195.jpg.html)

I’ll do a proper photo when the unit is complete. I have acquired the models for it, so it’s just a question of elbow grease. Speaking of these new acquisition
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0187x.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0187x.jpg.html)

The lot included a few of the old metal Reiksguard which is nice for a LITTLE bit of variety. Now in the past when I got my hands on these guys I chopped of the diddy short lance (probably state of the art in the early ‘90s) and replaced it with a plastic lance. What do you guys think about that? Is this sacrilege? The model isn’t older than me, so it can’t be too bad, right?

Also pictured is a nice “Heroic Hero with Broadsword” from that same era (this was before GW made sure everything can be turned into a trademark…). I really like him, they just don’t sculpt ‘staches like this anymore. He’ll make good Reiksguard unit champion…I do need to add more command models so I can use multiple Reiksguard units of reasonable size in regular games.

That’s all for now folks. Upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 10Nov2014 - Free company)
Post by: mousekiller on November 10, 2014, 08:57:53 AM
Wow, that is a lot of knights!  Now you make me look like a slacker when I complain about finishing 9 of them!  Great job.

And the free company looks suitably diverse.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 10Nov2014 - Free company)
Post by: Mightymatt88 on November 10, 2014, 08:11:01 PM
 :::cheers:::

Nice work on the Militia! I really like the back stories you've created for them, and the idea that they're from all walks of life, but united together to fight back against the Chaos worshippers who razed their town. I think a banner is a great idea! Hands and hooves would be good, but scalps shouldn't be too hard, a circle of greenstuff distressed to look like hair. Maybe a Chaos warrior helmet on top? And bits of armour like Marauder shoulder pads?

Anyway loving your work, and I'm insanely jealous of your mass of Reiksguard!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 10Nov2014 - Free company)
Post by: DariusZero on November 11, 2014, 10:21:42 AM
Intersting stuff here and a good paitn job, my favorite are militia.


"The lot included a few of the old metal Reiksguard which is nice for a LITTLE bit of variety. Now in the past when I got my hands on these guys I chopped of the diddy short lance (probably state of the art in the early ‘90s) and replaced it with a plastic lance. What do you guys think about that? Is this sacrilege? The model isn’t older than me, so it can’t be too bad, right?"

I wouldn't do that. they mix ok. Check my thread, I have mixed units too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 10Nov2014 - Free company)
Post by: Darknight on November 11, 2014, 10:24:47 AM
They are supposed to be an elite unit, and elite units might have different - older, or just variant - equipment. The lance is shorter and heavier - perhaps that knight prefers that model of lance compared to the lighter, longer one? Maybe he can fight better with it, or finds it more suitable in the press of battle, or something.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganov (update 10Nov2014 - Free company)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 14, 2014, 11:47:02 PM
Mightymatt88, those are some good suggestions for the banner, I will cook up something...eventually.

Darius and Darknight, interesting to read your opinion, everybody on warseer said 'chop'em off'. Is this a sign of two different cultures? My sampling size might be a little small :dry: In the end I went King Solomon-style, I left the hand and lower part of the lance on and only replaced the upper part. Pictures to follow once that unit is done.

It's been over a month since the last update, wow, time flies when you are having …a family, work deadlines, End Time books to read and Warhammer games to play …so to sum it up: FUN! The End Time in particular has mixed things up a bit on the gaming side. I had a good game with Empire against an Undead Legion and a really fun game of Chaos Legion on Chaos Legion in a Watchtower scenario. Yes, you read that right, fun with and against the new lists and fun with the watchtower scenario. I live in a Warhammer paradise, where the terrible things that ruin everybody’s warhammer according to the internet don’t apply (I also saw a rainbow unicorn snuggling up with some bunny rabbits the other day…I live in a special place).

So not too much happened on the painting side. I did grind my way through some more halberdiers, but why show you twenty today when I could show you a complete unit tomorrow (or the day after). I did however finish a truthsayer and used the opportunity to drag out some other wizards who have recently come out of the bushes to help in the defense of VolganoF (that’s right, I belatedly found out that’s how you spell that city…not that ANYONE would have discreetly send me a PM…hope you all had a good time chuckling about my inability to spell like a drunken Englishman).

The truthsayer strutting his stuff and a not-Gandalf Shadow Wizard
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0202.jpg)

And here is a little old guy, affectionately known as Catweazle, also mostly Shadow although in a pinch I’ve used him as Beast. Next to him a much more grandiose Light Wizard (clearly that school of magic needs lots more trinkets)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0203.jpg)

And finally here is the monthly dose of heresy, an Exalted Flamer and his little buddy. The Exalted is a really great model, if I could do it again though I would position the arms a little wider and then have the flames from the mouth be a little more like a fireball….next time. He is magnetized to the base, so he can hop on his ride (which is work in progress).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0201.jpg)

That’s it, short and sweet, hopefully worth your time. Cheers.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14Dec2014 - Wizards)
Post by: Zak on December 15, 2014, 12:27:40 AM
 :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14Dec2014 - Wizards)
Post by: Lateksimajava on December 16, 2014, 02:05:37 PM
The Knight unit is just too awesome!  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::

More close-ups please?

And the Khorne warriors look really good too!  ::heretic::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14Dec2014 - Wizards)
Post by: cjp on December 17, 2014, 01:46:17 AM
I really like the cart puller above. :)

The knight unit is quite intimidating too!   
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14Dec2014 - Wizards)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 19, 2014, 02:52:47 AM
thanks guys!

I'll post more close-ups that you will want to see once this unit is done, currently standing at 36, nine more to go :blush:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14Dec2014 - Wizards)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 20, 2015, 06:36:14 AM
Greetings! so here we go without further ado here is the REIKSGUARD
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0211.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0207.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0213.jpg)
(interesting how photobucket occasionally distorts the images after cropping. all three I treated exactly the same way)

According to the scenario this unit of 45 is half of the entire Altdorf chapter. Sounds a bit off to me.

Normally for bases I cut the roofing shingles to size although this isn’t cut at the moment. Kind of fun to carry around but presumably not useful in-game …not sure how I handle it for this unit. Would probably be more practical to have a few separate movement trays.

Here are a couple close-ups. My favorite command models (I made three sets so I can field the knights in slightly more reasonable unit sizes in ‘medium’ sized games). I spent quite some time on the banner. Good old paper banners…just don’t do enough of these anymore with all the convenient plastic bits around. Turned out okay I think.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0217.jpg)

Kurt and two of his friends.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0218.jpg)

And the sashes. On the very left the GW version and then a selection of what I and my ham fists came up with. Maybe the length of the sash has something to do with length of service in the Reiksguard?
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0220.jpg)

Well…and then it got a little silly
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0223.jpg)

Right, so before tackling the second unit I do need to recover a bit from knights. Also, if Bubbble Fantasy Marines show up or new Empire/Bret combined knights I might be able to scoop up these old sculpts for cheap, so no rush at the moment. There are always halberdiers to do for some R&R.

I’d love to hear what other unreasonable units are out there or what mad plans you have. Please share.
Cheers. Naitsabes
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 19Jan2015 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Vauln on January 20, 2015, 09:33:32 AM
Wow!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 19Jan2015 - Reiksguard)
Post by: VonOttenheim on January 20, 2015, 12:51:42 PM
That unit of Reiksguard looks truly amazing.   :Ohmy:

I´m sitting here painting 7 of them and bitching about it  :eusa_wall:  , so   well done Sir!    :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:


Horses "en masse" is really boring to paint sometimes...


I have "converted" some of my older models by chopping off bit and pieces, ....and...  I always regret it later at some stage lol.

A classic is a classic... is a classic....but sacrilege?....nahhh if it looks good and you are happy with it..do it!  :biggriin: 

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 19Jan2015 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Zak on January 20, 2015, 03:04:22 PM
 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 19Jan2015 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Cam on January 21, 2015, 08:43:52 PM
That giant amount of knights is just great!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 19Jan2015 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 24, 2015, 12:59:36 AM
Thanks guys!

Horses "en masse" is really boring to paint sometimes...
only sometimes?  :blush:

----------------------------------
mini update

I finished the standard bearer for the Kludburgh Militia: Olaf, the Pipe. An old witch once said that no harm will come to him as long as that pipe is going. So far she is right. The Kludburghers take great pride in nailing choice pieces of Beastman to their standard. The priest is just photo bombing. This is one of my favorite GW sculpts of all times. I like his stout face and neck. He does eat and drink his fair share but that hammer is not a ridiculously oversized ornamental weapon, he sure looks like he knows how to wield it.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0221.jpg)

Here is the whole militia...and maybe the picture isn't even distorted like last time
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0222.jpg)

And finally, here is a sneak peak at a recent game we had. Lord Hackbile (of later Volganof fame) was attacked by my murderous Khorne/Tzeentch Legion. Things were going well until the Dark Prince sent in some meanies.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0674-1.jpg)

upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jan2015 - militia standard)
Post by: CaptainAdar on January 31, 2015, 12:18:15 AM
I also love that WP. Reminds me of the good old days when I first started Warhammer.

That unit of Reiksguard is off the chain.

I'm late on this. Volganoff is that massive battle at the back of the BRB right?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jan2015 - militia standard)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 03, 2015, 07:10:20 PM
I'm late on this. Volganoff is that massive battle at the back of the BRB right?

It is indeed. The four page spread of awesomeness.

Thanks for the interest. I am currently soldiering through some halberdiers. Might take a while but rest assured the slow march continues!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jan2015 - militia standard)
Post by: mr chumley warner on February 04, 2015, 12:18:52 PM
Yes love the 40 Knights !!!

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jan2015 - militia standard)
Post by: Zygmund on February 04, 2015, 12:46:58 PM
Uuuuhh... Reiksguard... 45 heavy horse... So many...  :eusa_clap:

I've been trying to finish my first 5 knights for 5 years now. Didn't have a problem with Pistoliers or Squires. Don't get it why the armoured knights are so uninspiring. :eusa_wall:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jan2015 - militia standard)
Post by: CaptainAdar on February 10, 2015, 07:46:35 PM
I have 10 or so myself to build and paint. I know that right when I do they'l come out with new ones with big beefy steeds and armor. That's what I want to see! Like imagine the type of horse in the plastic captain set...but a whole unit. And options for the different knightly orders. That would be AWESOME.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jan2015 - militia standard)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 24, 2015, 05:33:28 AM
Zygmund, I don't understand your problem. These are really exciting models :icon_wink: ...NOT. well, the riders aren't bad (albeit too big), the horses are just tired after ~twenty years of service.

I have 10 or so myself to build and paint. I know that right when I do they'l come out with new ones with big beefy steeds and armor. That's what I want to see! Like imagine the type of horse in the plastic captain set...but a whole unit. And options for the different knightly orders. That would be AWESOME.

At this point I would say the chances of getting new knights from GW in the sense of quasi-German 15th century looking are rather slim. I would put my money on some kind of holy paladin on a fire-breathing floating destriers of doom. That being said, I am holding out hope that some 'white knight' will come to the rescue.

----------------------------------------------------

Time for a proper update! Today’s topic is a unit of Volganof’s finest halberdiers.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0244klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0230klein.jpg)
To give them a bit of Ostland flair I went with fur caps, a lot of beard, only a little of feather and some more rustic bills in place of halberds. I imagine in preparation for the defense every last blacksmith has been ordered to produce weapons and some of that output may not exactly match the standards set in the official ‘Nuln Handbook of Imperial Weaponry’.

Some close-ups
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0241klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0240klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0238klein.jpg)

The keen-eyed amongst you also may have spotted an ogre or two. In some version of the fluff (WFRP2?) Ostland has a relatively large population of ogres that is rather well integrated into human society. I took that as an excuse to break up the painting tedium and push my meager green stuff skills. Here are Rob and Tob in the harsh light of the midday Volganof sun
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0234klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0243klein.jpg)
Note on the last pictures that the ogres do get the same level of dental care like every other soldier – none!

At the moment this unit is lead by my rendition of Kriegsmarshal Baron von Blutten. The second in command at Volganof, he is a proud and stubborn man. He insists on using his pistol despite having lost an eye many years ago (BS 2). Really?!? I mean how about using a freaking shield, he doesn’t have to follow the Emperor to the T (no, I am not bitter).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0237klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0236klein.jpg)
[photo][photo]
 
Finally, I did some bean counting and came up with a first complete draft army list and want to introduce the official Volganof Counter. Ready?

23Mar2015 Volganof Counter: 550/920
(920 models in the army, 550 still to paint)

Yes, I am far from done. Upward and onward.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Mar2015 - halberdiers)
Post by: Zak on March 24, 2015, 09:41:07 AM
WOOT WOOT  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Mar2015 - halberdiers)
Post by: mottdon on March 24, 2015, 02:17:31 PM
They're looking great!  I love your halberdiers!  The addition of your Ogre mercs gives them such nice diversity!  I'll be checking back to see your progress!  Keep it up!   :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Mar2015 - halberdiers)
Post by: Hoodling on March 25, 2015, 03:06:24 AM
You're showing impressive perseverance, and every unit is look great. If you keep that up for all 920 models, I'll be very impressed.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Mar2015 - halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 28, 2015, 04:25:48 AM
They're looking great!  I love your halberdiers!  The addition of your Ogre mercs gives them such nice diversity!  I'll be checking back to see your progress!  Keep it up!   :eusa_clap:
Thanks. Please do come back and comment. It helps me to keep going.

You're showing impressive perseverance, and every unit is look great. If you keep that up for all 920 models, I'll be very impressed.
Thanks. I am quite happy with the quality of my output. Decent enough for the tabletop. Quantity is the issue. It's best not to project out how long it would take me to finish off the army at my current pace.  :x

Instead, I just keep going...

Try as I might, these end up being ~monthly updates. It is what it is. Today we are doing flagellants! The mighty "Mad Men of the Drakwald" come to Volganof's defence.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0250klein.jpg)

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0253klein.jpg)

This is a wild mix of flagellants of every shape and form. A good opportunity to look at GW flagellants through the ages, don’t you think?

From left to right: 4th edition, Mordheim, 6th edition and current plastics.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0257klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0259klein.jpg)

In my humble opinion it takes seriously rose-tinted glasses to explain away giant hands and feet and heads and eyebrows (!) of the two on the left as ‘characterful’. The 6th edition metals are my favorites. Really nice poses too, but hard to convert. The current plastics are a close second...as long as one cuts down the comically over-sized weapons. (and they allow easy kit-bashing, important to avoid the clone trooper-effect in a unit of 50).

I did come up with a little unit filler. Presumably the goblin figured out that yelling ‘Sigmar protect me’ keeps him alive.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0254klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0255klein.jpg)

Also in the unit: a dog. although one probably isn't enough for all the blind crazy man...
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0260klein.jpg)

A sneak peak of what is currently on my paint table. I scored a nice big haul of classic spears+halberds and have started working on those.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0249klein.jpg)

Here is the new and improved official Volganof counter, now with glass-half-full attitude:
27Apr2015 NEW Volganof Counter: 392/920
(920 models in the army, 392 done)

Upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Apr2015 - flagellants)
Post by: Zygmund on April 29, 2015, 02:03:59 PM
Great work on those Flagellants! Nice comparisons too, the 6th ed guys are my favorities also.

Eager to see what you do with those classic 4th ed Halberdiers and Spearmen.

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Apr2015 - flagellants)
Post by: Zak on April 29, 2015, 02:05:38 PM
cooool  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Apr2015 - flagellants)
Post by: Shadespyre on April 29, 2015, 08:28:46 PM
Nice Flagellants. I have a whole bunch of the 6th ed ones to paint - lack of variety of poses but intermixed with the plastics I think that'll be okay.

Never think about how long a project will take! You will always underestimate, and it will always be depressing! My Middenheim army is around 600 models and... just don't ask how long!  ::heretic::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Apr2015 - flagellants)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 06, 2015, 01:35:01 AM
Thanks for the comments, guys! It great to see somebody is looking this army. And now, update time!

5Jun2015
I am STILL slogging slowly through the Spearmen I last showed you. Twenty done so far and the others have basecoats. So…nothing to show there. But, I have let myself get distracted by other things so here we go:

For starters, here is a plethora of priests. I may have mentioned that the second generation of Sigmar priests isn’t my favorite. But, these two will whip up the hatred in their units just fine. That shield on the left with a two-tailed comet was sent to me across the ocean by the generous daniel36, Big THANK YOU. …and then I fail to take a proper picture, how embarrassing is that? The Ulric priest in the middle I really like. However until I painted him, I didn’t realize his technical flaws (e.g. fingers trailing of into eternity under the book; undefined ‘detail’ on the underside of the right arm, etc.). I suppose this is due to the state of technology in single piece metals back when he came out. For me it was a reminder of how far GW has come.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0261klein.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0261klein.jpg.html)

Here are some classic outriders. Now these guys I like much better than their modern counterparts (the riders that is, don’t get me started on the horses). Great ornate armor and helmets. They are a bit same-y but I didn’t want to chop up this batch and possibly ruin the classic look. I have another unit that I won’t be as respectful with when the time comes
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0262klein.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0262klein.jpg.html)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0263klein.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0263klein.jpg.html)

…and some Altdorf artillery. Painted quite a while ago actually. But, they will certainly end up on the walls of Volganof
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0264klein.jpg)

Finally, here are some Knights of the White Wolf, also from my stash and painted a few years ago. I’ve decided there must be a chapter house in Volganof for they will be part of the main army, not the relief force.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0265klein.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0265klein.jpg.html)

Really great models, in particular the faces (not that my painting does them justice, I might be able to bring out the details some more now that I have a better handle on washes and highlights).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0266klein.jpg) (http://s678.photobucket.com/user/naitsabes_bucket/media/DSC_0266klein.jpg.html)

That’s it for today…and this month at the very least. I am heading to the old country for a few weeks so updates will be even slower than you may have come to expect.

Upwards and onwards.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Jun2015 - outriders and more)
Post by: Cam on June 06, 2015, 09:01:31 PM
Good job on the White Wolves. Mixing old and new models seems to work out!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Jun2015 - outriders and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 07, 2015, 05:12:38 AM
Thanks. Mixing works...as long as you use the new models sparingly :icon_mrgreen:

Actually, I don't think the plastic white wolves are all that bad. It's mostly the terribly stiff'n'straight fur coat that bothers me....and I don't have the skills to come up with something better. Suggestions anyone?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Jun2015 - outriders and more)
Post by: Cam on June 07, 2015, 11:47:39 AM
What I dislike most about the plastic White Wolves is the arms. Those sleeves just don't look like plate armor to me. The stiff coats are also bad.

What I did for my plastic White Wolves is to add a bit of green stuff to their body's (tightly wrapping it around) and then a second layer of green stuff where I'd sculpt fur into it. That makes them look fairly close to the original metal ones.
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of mine as they are mostly WIP right now but other people have done that, too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Jun2015 - outriders and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 05, 2015, 07:53:18 AM
4Aug2015
Well. It’s been a while. Between work and travel and travel for work I haven’t been painting as much lately. Also looks like GW in the meantime created a Sigmarworld full of Sigmarines clad in Sigmarite. As you may be able to guess from this project log, I am not into skirmish games and that’s the end of that. Luckily, a critical mass of people is staying the square-based course in my little corner of the world so my gaming hasn’t been affected. In fact, some of the more tournament-focused guys around here have loosened up a little and are now more open to house rules and scenarios. So, all is well so far. I will keep going with this log for now, it’ll look a little out of place between Sigmarines and Aelfs but maybe there is still some interested in the world-that-was.

Right, so the main focus today is this block of Spearmen. It's the last unit of the Altlangen contingent (the poor sods that start the game outside the walls). Part of that unit I painted a long time ago and now I touched these up plus added models to bring it up to a decent 8ed unit size. Was kind of interesting to dig up the old models and look at the questionable painting choices I made back then (e.g. white drybrushing the whole model. Shudder. No, I didn’t take pictures, the past is in the past).
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0268klein.jpg)
It’s a mix of 3rd + 6th edition Spearmen. They go quite well together, unfortunately I ran out of eagle shield transfers so had to make do with the plastic version. Here are two close-ups.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0269klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0270klein.jpg)
I also finished five more Reiksguard…no picture, they look as before. Really, who is keeping track. Actually, I am! Fifty of the ninety done now.

And, then there is the city of Volganof. You may remember, this is what we are aiming for:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TyoS9KCaXjM/TyVvipfmJrI/AAAAAAAAAMo/Yt_ydYV9Brk/s1600/CCastleeMG_4575.jpg)

Here is where we are at:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0273klein.jpg)
Stop chuckling! Basically, we are getting our feet wet with these Hirst Art Blocks (well, mostly hands. It is a bit messy). I have seen quite a few logs use these and was expecting this mold making outfit to be some kind of multi-national corporation. Turns out it is one guy, living the dream from his kitchen. But, it’s a great product. The molds work as advertised, I can highly recommend it. At this point I aim for building a little hovel to gain some experience before we launch into titanic towers and walls. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will Volganof.

The official Volganof painting counter as of 4Aug15 now stands at:
590 done/957 total (I found some more painted guys, so it's quite a jump)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: Hoodling on August 05, 2015, 10:55:27 AM
You're planning to make the entire castle out of Hirst Arts blocks? Man, that sounds like a serious labour of love all on its own.

Good progress again, even if the updates are not always hot on each other's heels. At least you're still making progress. 590 painted models is a lot of troops.

It was only after I did all my White Wolf Knights that I discovered Instant Mold and got over my fear of green stuff. Which is a pity, because they would look much better with some mass produced cloaks like I later did for my Knights Panther.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: adso113 on August 06, 2015, 02:44:53 AM
This, sir, is the single most hobby inspiring thing I've seen. Ever. Well, that autumn themed Averland army was really nice, too. And Chumley Warner's plog. But, I have a goal to paint 1,000 state troops. This makes me feel less crazy.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: Alexis on August 06, 2015, 10:18:55 AM
Magnificent! The castle is fantastic!!  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: Darknight on August 06, 2015, 10:38:48 AM
Good luck with the Hirst stuff! You are right - they are great things indeed.

But HEAVY! Plan carefully - you can probably make a lot of the internal walls from foamcore which will make it easier and lighter.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 06, 2015, 03:37:02 PM
You're planning to make the entire castle out of Hirst Arts blocks? Man, that sounds like a serious labour of love all on its own.
Magnificent! The castle is fantastic!!  :eusa_clap:

Love is what we are all about. We do have two GW castle sets and a couple of plastic watchtowers and who knows what goodies we can bag in the future. But yes, considering that the battle is about control of the gates and the courtyard we do want to put serious effort into it. Let's see how far we can push that towards the indeed fantastic GW version.

Good luck with the Hirst stuff! You are right - they are great things indeed.

But HEAVY! Plan carefully - you can probably make a lot of the internal walls from foamcore which will make it easier and lighter.

That's an interesting point I didn't consider so far. We want to build this to be modular to some extent so it's usable for other games (and also doesn't need its own room for storage). So each piece should be a manageable weight. I suppose we need to make sure the bottom parts are sturdy enough. And planning it so it looks more or less seamless will be key.

This, sir, is the single most hobby inspiring thing I've seen. Ever. Well, that autumn themed Averland army was really nice, too. And Chumley Warner's plog. But, I have a goal to paint 1,000 state troops. This makes me feel less crazy.
I don't think I am halfway to the 1,000 state troops. But, I approve of your manly goals!


Thanks everyone for the comments. Makes it a lot more fun for me.
cheers.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: Zak on August 06, 2015, 07:09:45 PM
 :icon_eek: :icon_eek: god luck wow
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Aug2015 - spearmen)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 13, 2015, 06:26:00 PM
12Sep15
Well, in this update we are back to heretical things for the most part. I present to you angry Fleshounds of Khorne (from a few generations back).

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0282klein.jpg)

I didn’t want to do the classic neon-green for the frills, and waffled around for a bit trying to find the right color. Happy with the end result. Age-appropriately, these models do have some terrible gaps and badly sculpted areas but, overall I like their pose and how they slink along. Menacing in a way. Also, who could say no to spiked club tails!

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0283klein.jpg)

Here is the big dog himself, Karanak. Obviously a different generation but the paint job helps to tie them together. I basically rescued him from the pound (i.e. flea market). One of his loose legs didn’t fit and required extensive reconstructive surgery, one head was missing so I had to make do with a regular dog head. I recon he looks the part now though.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0284klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0285klein.jpg)

To end on a Sigmar-approved note, here is another cannon for the walls of Volganof. Only three more to go. And, is there maybe an expert on renaissance artillery in the audience who could tell me what the guy on the left has in his hand? Because it sure looks like a beer mug to me (I was tempted to sculpt some foam)?

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0286klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0287klein.jpg)

The official Volganof counter:
594/957

Upward and onward (albeit slowly)!

p.s. after 1.5 years, a more detailed status report seemed appropriate

last update 29Aug2015
BOLD = required
GREEN = ready to go
RED  = anything from still on the store shelf to primed and halfway painted

Volganov City Guard (3000pts)
Oleg von Raukov
Sergov Pfeiffer (Lv1 Fire)
Klaus Solmann (Lv4 Heaven)
Baron von Blutten
Captain Schwarzhelb
60 Stalwart Bulls (Greatswords)
30 Gryphon Guard A
30 Gryphon Guard B
40 Reinforcement Spearmen

 40 Reinforcement Halberdiers
40 Reinforcement Swordsmen
2 Steam Tanks
17 Knights of the Golden Griffon
Captain of the Golden Griffon
 3x 10 Crossbowman
3x 10 Handgunner
2 Priests
2 Captains
2 Battle Wizards (Lv2)
40 City Halberdiers
40 City Spearmen
Hurricanum
Helblaster Volley Gun
Engineer

Artillery of Volganov (1500pts)
Kannonmeister Gunther Trundlekopf (Engineer)
Ol' Puddings (Cannon)

Spinning Bertha (Helblaster)
6 cannons
2 Mortars
3 cannons
1 Mortars

Ostland
30 Kludburgh Militia
20 Volgar's Shadomen (Huntsmen)
Volgar (Captain)
50 Flagellants of the Forest of Shadow
50 Scarlet Curs (Halberdiers)
Vasili von Raukov


Other Provinces
Volkman (Captain)
50 "Bechafen" Halberdiers
30 "Blackhats of Talabheim" (Swordsmen)


Altlangen Contingent (Captain + 1000pts core + 500pts special)
Baron Beckdorf[/color]
2x 10 Handgunner
31 Spearmen
30 Swordsmen
6 Knights (FC)
6 Knights (musician)
24 Altlanger Greatswords+FC+Standard of Disciplin
12 Swordsmen (Detachment)
5 Pistoliers (music+champ+repeater)

Relief Column (1500pts mounted)
Kurt Helborg
Ludvig Schwartzhelm
45 1st Reiksguard
45 2nd Reiksguard
Valmir von Raukov
Raukov Battle Standard

10 Raukov Household Knights
6 Knights
3 Demigryph Knights
3 Demigryph Knights
2 Pegasus Captain
Pegasus Captain
6 Outriders
5 Pistoliers
Luminark
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: steveb on September 13, 2015, 09:09:08 PM
yes it does look like a mug in his hand, and it could well be.  I would like to think that it is more involved in the firing of the gun,  It could be to pour liquid down the touch hole in order to put out any embers that could set off the next powder charge to rammed in, or it could be to wet the powder bag when firing rapidly to keep the silk (most likely, or fine cotton) from igniting when touching an ember or spark.  the bag arond his neck robably contains priming powder, and the other tool is a ram for packing in the wad and/or packing in the ball. as opposed to the big one you usually see which is for wet swabbing out the barrel to cool, and cool it while putting out embers or sparks that might occur from hot metal, air, and oxygen combining together.  the other tool you usually see looks like a scoop on the end of the pole, this is used for delivering the powder bag/charge into the cannon, the bag sits in the scoop and when it is delivered to the end of the barrel the scoop is turned over and withdrawn leaving the powder bag in the barrel and avoiding tears in the bag or friction igniting any of the powder.  in some of the older figures you will see a rod or pin chest or belt of the artilleryman and this is for cleaning out the touch hole on the barrel as it sometimes gets clogged up with powder residue, there are two other instruments that are very seldom seen, a giant worm screw that is used to remove cannon balls and powder bags when the gun does not go off, and the leather thumb pad that the crew leader usually wears as he used it the seal that touch hole when they are loading the gun so the that suction of moving tools through the barrel does not draw oxygen in and create any flares in the residue.   Then again if you have been around black powder it does not take much of it in the air for you to want to take a long drink of cool water so it may well be a mug in his hand.     :icon_wink:  steveb
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: Gneisenau on September 13, 2015, 09:39:21 PM
Good work on the cannon! I'm painting that one right now, too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: scrubber on September 13, 2015, 09:47:42 PM
This is such fun to follow. Good look with the Hirst Arts, we've made some building before, and spent more time cleaning up afterwards than casting the moulds. Made habour wall and landing landing stage, only 5 bricks high, then foam board under the paved area, that was still some weight. Also think of storage before making some of the taller towers.
Consider your colours for the fleshhounds as pinched [please]. They are so nice.
I like the very old flagellants, something homely about them.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: Hoodling on September 14, 2015, 03:24:59 AM
Nice work. Whatever repairs and replacements you had to make on Karanak are not apparent. And I think the yellow works really well.

I enjoy reading your updates. Keep it up!

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: VonOttenheim on September 14, 2015, 10:11:37 AM
Really....really...REALLY enjoying your blog.

Inspirational to say the least   :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 15, 2015, 03:36:17 AM
yes it does look like a mug in his hand, and it could well be.  I would like to think that it is more involved in the firing of the gun,  It could be to pour liquid down the touch hole in order to put out any embers that could set off the next powder charge to rammed in, or it could be to wet the powder bag when firing rapidly to keep the silk (most likely, or fine cotton) from igniting when touching an ember or spark. [...and more fascinating stuff...]
on warseer someone suggested this 'mug' is a sort of measuring cup to get the right amount of black powder from the barrel (and then he goes on talking about the same long scoop like you to put the powder down the barrel). knowledgeable people all around, thanks! although I liked my beer mug idea.

Good work on the cannon! I'm painting that one right now, too.
thanks. it is a classic.

This is such fun to follow. Good look with the Hirst Arts, we've made some building before, and spent more time cleaning up afterwards than casting the moulds. Made habour wall and landing landing stage, only 5 bricks high, then foam board under the paved area, that was still some weight. Also think of storage before making some of the taller towers.
Consider your colours for the fleshhounds as pinched [please]. They are so nice.
I like the very old flagellants, something homely about them.
thanks! pinch all the colors you want. no progress on the hirst block front. but yes, boy is that messy. My partner-in-crime has recently moved up in the world and setup his own game room. I am a lot more motivated to put effort into the table now that the storage issue is solved.

Nice work. Whatever repairs and replacements you had to make on Karanak are not apparent. And I think the yellow works really well.
I enjoy reading your updates. Keep it up!
I am keeping at it for sure. Handgunners are next. By the way, I really enjoy your proper blog. It's not possible to comment there without yet another account and that hurdle was too high for me so far. But, I do read it and like both text and photos. So, keep it up yourself please!

Really....really...REALLY enjoying your blog.
Inspirational to say the least   :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
thanks! all your comments are very inspirational to me. it's fun to know somebody somewhere at the other end of the world looks at these little guys.

..and on a final note, here are some bonus khorne pictures I took of older stuff as I was photographing the dogs.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0301klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0297klein.jpg)

This is my little Khorne Demon gang, all frothing at the mouth and up to no good.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0303klein.jpg)

cheers. Sebastian
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: steveb on September 15, 2015, 05:01:00 PM
nice stuff!  remember that comments are like the tip of the iceburg, for every comment there are many many more who view without commenting.  steveb
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: Zygmund on September 16, 2015, 09:19:06 PM
^ I'd be one of those who check in weekly, but only write once or twice per year. Always nice to read about and look at this project!

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12Sep2015 - hounds&cannon)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 03, 2015, 05:07:09 AM
nice stuff!  remember that comments are like the tip of the iceburg, for every comment there are many many more who view without commenting.  steveb
guilty as charged  :blush:


2Nov2015
Update time! Today we start by looking at the brave men who are on the actual walls. My list at the moment has 60 shooters. I reserve the right to change that though once I get a better picture of how many guys will fit. These guys will dish out hot lead and bolts until some dragon decides to swoop in for a snack. I had ~30 painted before this mad project got underway. I’ve now added a unit in the proper colors. Beware, dodgy photography skills on display.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0308klein.jpg)

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0309klein.jpg)

Now I did experiment with striped pants a little. Turns out it’s hard for me to be consistent. I don’t think I should attempt to do this on a proper-sized unit of state troops.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0310klein.jpg)

Next up is Oleg von Raukov himself. Valmir’s son and the man at the center of this drama. The target of Lord Mortkin’s unfounded hatred. (I mean, really, the von Raukovs were over in Norsca for a little R&R and things just got a little out of hand, no biggie. It was just ~seven Norscan towns that got razed and their smallfolk put to the sword. I think Mortkin is overreacting.)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0314klein.jpg)

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0313klein.jpg)
(and no, I didn’t attempt to do some awesome freehand on the cloak. Sometimes, I do know my limits).

Here is a wizard. Looks like the gnarly type from deep in the woods. I really don’t know why he is in this log, he is not in my current list. I guess usually a wizard just shows up at the right time in the right place. So maybe this guy is trying to tell me something.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0311klein.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0312klein.jpg)

Finally, this is the state of the city of Volganof at the moment.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0315klein.jpg)

 I ‘hirsted’ away for an evening. Since this picture was taken I fixed the sagging wall on the left and finished the ground floor. It was a lot of fun and came together surprisingly well. No unsightly gaps. I did learn that this is about as high as one can go without some kind of internal support (maybe in the form of a cardboard box?). Haven’t quite decided what to do about the windows, maybe some closed shutters? And, I do have big plans for a timberframe second floor…in due time.

The official Volganof counter:
615/957
Upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: RE.Lee on November 03, 2015, 10:53:13 AM
Brilliant blog! Love both the Empire and Chaos armies, and the dramatic setting you've arranged. The model you've chosen to represtent Oleg is one of favourite in the Empire line and you've done it justice, great paintjob. Looking forward to seeing some more units and, of course, the castle!

All the best!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: Zak on November 03, 2015, 11:32:13 AM
nice work dude
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: mottdon on November 03, 2015, 01:36:10 PM
Love all of the older models you are using!  They look great!  I especially like the Priest of Ulric model too.  That is my favorite Priest.  I did notice the flaws when painting it, but they really aren't all that noticeable.  You have to pick it up and really scrutinize the model to see any of it.  He robes really pick up details well too. 

I'm loving seeing the progress!  Keep at it!   :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: VonOttenheim on November 03, 2015, 05:25:28 PM
Think I said it before, but I gladly repeat it.

This is one of my absolute favourite painting blogs   :::cheers:::

I really like your painting style.

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 06, 2015, 06:32:55 PM
Think I said it before, but I gladly repeat it.

This is one of my absolute favourite painting blogs   :::cheers:::

I really like your painting style.
thanks, I'll gladly hear it again...and again...and again.

Love all of the older models you are using!  They look great!  I especially like the Priest of Ulric model too.  That is my favorite Priest.  I did notice the flaws when painting it, but they really aren't all that noticeable.  You have to pick it up and really scrutinize the model to see any of it.  He robes really pick up details well too. 

I'm loving seeing the progress!  Keep at it!   :::cheers:::
There are some turds and some winners in every generation of models, the Ulric priest certainly is in the latter category. I am still waiting for the horse version to end up in my grubby hands. And, I am most certainly keeping at it. EEFL  :wink:

nice work dude
cheers, zak.

Brilliant blog! Love both the Empire and Chaos armies, and the dramatic setting you've arranged. The model you've chosen to represtent Oleg is one of favourite in the Empire line and you've done it justice, great paintjob. Looking forward to seeing some more units and, of course, the castle!

All the best!
That is the model the GW people used in their Volganof rendition, and it is the right pick (I just chickened out from giving it a fur cap, was too afraid to mess it up). I like the swagger he exudes with his head ever so slightly tilted backwards. 'Come get some'.

In between painting piles of state troops (stay tuned for that) I've started detailing the house. That is quite fun.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_03161.jpg?1446834696242&1446834697595)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: RE.Lee on November 07, 2015, 07:50:07 AM
Looking good but is that a dog outline hanging on the wall?  :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: Warhammer-Weib on November 07, 2015, 11:08:07 AM
Can't wait to see that house finished. Looks very promising already.  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: Gankom on November 10, 2015, 03:29:50 AM
Non stop awesome!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: Silver Wolf on November 21, 2015, 07:56:16 PM
I enjoy this blog very much.  :icon_biggrin:
I like your conversions, fluff and hobby projects.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Nov2015 - handgunners & characters)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 22, 2015, 05:09:56 AM
thanks for the comments everyone!

Looking good but is that a dog outline hanging on the wall?  :ph34r:
indeed it is. it must be the house of a dog trainer?


21November2015
Hello, hello. Update time yet again. Today is all about the elite ‘Gryphon Guard’ of Volganof. Founded more than two hundred years ago as the ‘Honorable Kompagnie in Defense of the Gryphon Gates’ the Gryphon Guard stands watch, escorts westward cargo and keeps order in the city quarter adjacent to the gates. The defenses of Volganof were reorganized after the catastrophic events during Brak Vorns ‘Spoiling of the East’ (a story for another time). Each city quarter was put in charge of forming a guard for their gate. The rich merchants and traders of the Gryphon Quarter quickly figured out that time spent serving in the guard was time not spent making money while at the same time recruiting men from other parts of the city lead to conflicts with their local councils. The obvious solution was hiring outsiders. Decent pay and good equipment allows the Gryphon Guard to be quite selective as there is always a good number of applicants to choose from and service in the Guard is seen as a good gig in certain circles as far away as Talabheim. The Gryphon Guard has a reputation for snobbery among the city garrison, after all their better pay is spent on plumes and personal hygiene. But, nobody should doubt their dedication to the city. This is their gate and they will not yield.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0322.jpg)

The Gryphon Guard is organized in two columns, the Inner and the Outer Guard each nominally charged with duty at one of the two gates (in practice men are rotated quite regularly). On the left the Inner Guard, on the right the Outer Guard command rank (or was it the other way around?)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0324.jpg)

Some troopers. I painted these units in unreasonably sized batches and did not vary the pant/shirt/equipment colors. While this procedure was quite a bit faster than my usual ‘five guys, white right leg here, black right leg there, etc.’ it also was a whole lot less fun. So, back to my leisurely painting from this point forward.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0325.jpg)

Here is the Captain of the Gryphon Guard, the honorable Wolfram Bertrano. In his youth he had to leave Nuln shortly before graduating from a famous fencing school due to an inappropriate interest in the daughter of a baron. Originally, he joined the Gryphon Guard on a two year contract but took a liking to the simpler life in the North. After rising through the ranks he became the first Gryphon Guard Captain not native to Ostland. This lead to some grumbling among the other city garrison captains, until the now legendary ‘Dreitorlauf’ of 2512. The ‘Dreitorlauf’ is an annual event in Volganof consisting of a long distance run around the city where the captains and select members of their units compete. The track weaves in and out of the city through the gates and traditionally the each gate’s garrison will spice things up by placing obstacles in the darkest part of the gatehouse and throwing items foul or furry (sometimes both) at the runners. Wolfram was leading the pack for most of the race but slipped on some cunningly placed foul matter inside the Wolf Gate and hit the ground hard. The other runners passed him but Wolfram made his way to the finish line all bruised and limping earning the grudging respect of his peers. The fencer with the finest technique in all of Volganof, Wolfram has trained his men well. While he is breathing the Gryphon Gates will not fall…I am sure Lord Mortkin can figure this one out.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0323.jpg)

Finally, here are two work in progress shots. This is the first house of Volganof as it currently stands. I had to abandon my overly ambitious plans for a second story (of course I built half of the darn thing before realizing it was too big). But, I quite like the house now. It’s almost ready for paint.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0320.jpg)

And here is my current project, the first of Valmir von Raukov’s bodyguard, the Raukov Household knights. Obviously based on a chaos knight but I spent some time grinding off the tainted chaos symbols. Any suggestions for improvements before I do nine more?
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0318.jpg)

The official Volganof counter:
677/957

That’s it. It might be a while before the next update with the jolly season almost upon us. Upward and onward. Cheers.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: Hoodling on November 22, 2015, 06:08:16 AM
Good progress! I like the house. Maybe if you're going to make them double storey, it might be worth making the second floor out of timber to save having to make an excessive number of bricks and add some interest (it might be too much stone otherwise).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: RE.Lee on November 22, 2015, 08:48:26 AM
Great update. The colours on the new units really make them pop. The house is looking very good as well  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: StealthKnightSteg on November 22, 2015, 10:37:03 AM
 :::cheers::: another great addition!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: errantgamer on November 22, 2015, 11:26:48 AM
I love the time and effort you put into these units, not just with the painting, but the backstory as well!!

Onwards and upwards indeed  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: Doc J on November 24, 2015, 10:44:44 PM
I really like what your doing especially the buildings and Gryphon Guard banners
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 28, 2015, 05:06:29 AM
Great update. The colours on the new units really make them pop. The house is looking very good as well  :::cheers:::
Good progress! I like the house. Maybe if you're going to make them double storey, it might be worth making the second floor out of timber to save having to make an excessive number of bricks and add some interest (it might be too much stone otherwise).
Thanks guys. I am enjoying working on the house. timber second floor was the original plan. I tried to have it overhanging the first floor and it ended up being to wide. But, I will just use that piece for a second house. No waste!

:::cheers::: another great addition!
I love the time and effort you put into these units, not just with the painting, but the backstory as well!!
Onwards and upwards indeed  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
I really like what your doing especially the buildings and Gryphon Guard banners
:::cheers::: thanks! I got a little carried away this time with writing these blurbs. But, I am glad someone likes them.

The banner on the right is just a print-out. Not hard to do.

cheers.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: Doc J on November 28, 2015, 07:03:55 PM
I really like what your doing especially the buildings and Gryphon Guard banners
:::cheers::: thanks! I got a little carried away this time with writing these blurbs. But, I am glad someone likes them.

The banner on the right is just a print-out. Not hard to do.

cheers.

[/quote]


I can never get the printouts to look right do you seal them with anything?  Where do you get your banner designs or do you make your own ?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 28, 2015, 09:27:10 PM
I can never get the printouts to look right do you seal them with anything?  Where do you get your banner designs or do you make your own ?

just google and then sometimes minor adjustments. There is plenty historical stuff for Empire heraldry. The key is to find black-white things. I've never gotten color prints to look good. For the Gryphon Banner I didn't do any painting except that blue border because I wanted it gleaming white. For other banners I usually dirty it up with Agrax and then color it in. You do normally want to paint the very edge of the paper otherwise that white line will stick out.

In my experience it's important not to use superglue to fix the paper on the plastic banner. It'll make the paper translucent and hardens it. That will look bad. Regular white glue ('Elmer's glue') used sparsely works well. I don't seal it, you can varnish the model, it doesn't seem to hurt the paper part.

hope this helps.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Nov2015 - swordsmen...lots of them)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 03, 2016, 03:07:41 AM
2Jan2016
Everyone’s sobered up yet? This update is a bit of a weak sauce but, read (or skim) on for some army shoots.

Today, I present to you the Mighty Spinning Bertha, protecting Volganof for 123 years and counting. The screeching sounds she makes when getting ready to fire is enough to make the vilest of the local beastmen flee (a smart move indeed for she unleashes twice the shots of a regular helblaster). Let’s see what she can do to 75 Chosen Warriors when the time comes.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0376.jpg)

This is the Volganof Helblaster contingent ..and also an overview of helblaster evolution.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0374.jpg)

I did carve out some time over the holidays to array my troops and take some pictures (and fix up some battle damage). So here we go, the Defenders of Volganof as they currently stand, all 676 of them
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0369.jpg)

Now for slightly more useful pictures:
The Altlangen contingent and the artillery
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0372.jpg)

The city garrison and friends
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0371.jpg)

The relief force (still 40 Reiksguard to add, ugh)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0370.jpg)

Looking at the ranks and ranks, it really feels like this is coming together.

The official Volganof counter:
676/966
Some minor list adjustment and realizing that I counted one unit of handgunners twice made the numbers wobble, still I am at ~70%. Will 2016 be the year of Volganof? Stay tuned.

Upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: DerBaron on January 03, 2016, 07:03:27 AM
Awesome project!

I really feel your pain for the reiksguard knights :) Have you thought about unit fillers? Might be a nice way to lessen the work load..

Do you have a counterpart army for your project? I don't know if it came up somewhere in the blog, I just looked at all the pretty pictures  :happy:

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Shadespyre on January 03, 2016, 11:59:32 AM
There are some pictures of the opposing chaos hordes back on page 2.

676 painted? You've passed me by a few dozen now, I could probably dig out another 50 or 60 Empire models to paint but I'm in no hurry to try and compete! It all looks amazing laid out together like that, especially the knights.  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: mottdon on January 04, 2016, 04:10:18 PM
I love the army-wide pics!  I know that's hard to achieve!  The huge block of knights looks awesome!   :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 05, 2016, 04:58:05 AM
I really feel your pain for the reiksguard knights :) Have you thought about unit fillers? Might be a nice way to lessen the work load..
Do you have a counterpart army for your project? I don't know if it came up somewhere in the blog, I just looked at all the pretty pictures  :happy:
I have some unit fillers in my army. I struggle a bit what to do for knights. I don't like it when units lug along rocks or columns or similar. I guess if I found another war altar that could work. so yes, I have thought about it but not figured it out.

There are some chaos pictures sprinkled throughout this log. And my partner in crime has his own log of his really well-painted models (http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?401896-Volganof-Will-Burn-A-Chaos-Legions-amp-other-forces-log&highlight=Volganof). But, that hasn't been updated in a while. So I am one of the lucky few to have seen his most recent stunning models (e.g. scratch built palanquin rider).

676 painted? You've passed me by a few dozen now, I could probably dig out another 50 or 60 Empire models to paint but I'm in no hurry to try and compete! It all looks amazing laid out together like that, especially the knights.  :eusa_clap:
Thanks! Paint your models! There is too much bare metal and plastic in the world.

I love the army-wide pics!  I know that's hard to achieve!  The huge block of knights looks awesome!   :::cheers:::

Thanks! The full blown Reiksguard unit lead by Kurt Helborg actually had an outing not too long ago and performed admirably. They cut their way through one massive chaos unit after the next. I am looking forward to having two of these units at Volganof  :evil:

Here is a picture of our game.
"The Breaking of Kislev"
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0330.jpg)

Set in the End Times, Krakanrok the Black (can you make him out there in the distance?) destroyed the city of Kislev. But, not before many brave men from Kislev, the Empire and Tilea became legend for their valiant struggle against an unending horde of chaos lead by some vile offspring of Asavar Kul.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Warhammer-Weib on January 05, 2016, 06:05:00 PM
Thank you for sharing! That's an amazing army!  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Gankom on January 09, 2016, 09:14:06 PM
Now that is an impressive looking battle.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Commander Bernhardt on January 23, 2016, 10:06:21 PM
Hey I need to see a picture of that big thing in the background?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: takenoko on January 24, 2016, 08:28:23 AM
The Breaking of Kislev looks amazing, I would love some more close-ups! Beautiful army you have, I am impressed that you manage to pull of a project like Volganof! Bravo! :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 25, 2016, 05:02:19 AM
Thanks you all!

The Breaking of Kislev looks amazing, I would love some more close-ups! Beautiful army you have, I am impressed that you manage to pull of a project like Volganof! Bravo! :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Well, we haven't managed but, we are pulling for sure. I am pretty close to posting another update. In the meantime here are a two more  pictures from the "Breaking of Kislev". Sadly, we are not very good at documenting our exploits  :blush:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0329.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0340.jpg)

Hey I need to see a picture of that big thing in the background?
you mean this guy facing some very brave (and very foolish) handgunners?
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0360.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: takenoko on January 25, 2016, 07:21:01 AM
Quote
you mean this guy facing some very brave (and very foolish) handgunners?

The Warhammer World is many things, but it is never fair...   :Ohmy:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: RE.Lee on January 25, 2016, 04:33:27 PM
Fantastic image! Makes you wish you were there...and then you notice that daemon-thing :)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jan2016 - Spinning Bertha & army)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 28, 2016, 06:47:24 PM
27Feb2016
Greetings everyone, time for an update on my slow march to Volganof.

But, before we go there and since I derailed this thread so thoroughly with pictures of our last big game why not more off-topic material.  We’ve played a little bit of Mordheim around here and I will say, it is not a bad game. Longer term I would miss the grandeur of titanic battles but it was a nice change of pace. I played a Norse warband, lead by Olaf, the thoughtful. Here he is, contemplating his next move.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0377.jpg)

And this is the rest of the gang. Their outing in Mordheim wasn’t wildly successful (seems to me the single most important thing is how lucky one is on the injury recovery rolls) but, they certainly will bring back to their hearths in Norsca tall tales of gore and glory.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0381.jpg)

Right, now let’s get this project log back on track. Most on my effort lately was on building and painting the Raukov Household Knights. As you may remember Elector Count Valmir von Raukov (together with a ‘few’ Reiksguard) will turn up at the eleventh hour attempting to save his sons and his city. I imagined he should be escorted by his personal retinue and so I cooked up these guys.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0382.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0384.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0386.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0383.jpg)

Obviously based on the old chaos knights with some Empire lances and heads. I quite like how they turned out. My favorite part is how the horse heads can be de-chaosified and then break up the typical monotony of these tired old plastic horse sculpts. If I could do it again, I would do the banner a little differently. It’s too small and if you look too closely at the way its set up you will realize that it is rather impractical. But, eventually there will be a BSB in the unit as well so then it might be nice if the unit standard is more modest.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0385.jpg)

Also, I wanted to give you an update on the first hovel of Volganof. This is the other side, it’s complete now, awaiting paint. It’s been a while since I painted a building. Any pointers?
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0379.jpg)

That’s all for today. The official Volganof counter:
687/966
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Zak on February 28, 2016, 09:14:46 PM
wow, looks good
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Hoodling on February 29, 2016, 12:38:46 AM
They do indeed look good. Anything that breaks up the look of the basic plastic Empire knights is a good thing, really.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Warhammer-Weib on February 29, 2016, 08:31:02 AM
Pointers:
Use a large brush ...  :icon_wink:

Seriously, I'm not sure what kind of pointers you mean considering your excellent paint jobs in this blog.   :unsure:

Excellent work on those knights BTW!  :eusa_clap:

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Henerius on February 29, 2016, 11:10:28 AM
Dear Naitsabes,

I have been looking to that unit for 10 or 15 minutes it is a real joy to look at. The conversion work done on the horses is small but effective, choice of models is excellent, paintjob is superb although the lance pole with the stripes looks a bit hurried. Still overall impression is:  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:  that was enjoyable.

The mordheim warband picture is not big enough. I demand close-ups  :closed-eyes:

Pointers:
https://manorhouseworkshop.com/assembly-instructions/how-to-paint-the-wood-and-stone-house/

https://www.miniaturescenery.com/PaintingGuides.asp

Comment on the Knightly order unit:
There is a lot to see on that unit. Each knight, although in  the same colours has a different colour scheme. The only thing binding them as a unit are the shields. I would expect from a knightly order that at least the weapons handed out to them would be uniform.

In the knightly order set there is a possibility to add small streamers (little triangle shaped banners) to the lance poles. I think a smalll touch to improve might be painting the lances in one colour scheme and the streamer on the lance could be the bright red?

-First thought on the lances:  the horizontal stripes? I like the stripes because they remind me of the black and white checker motiv all over the unit. These stripes should although be on all lances equal in shape/width.

-second thought on the lances: The overall black and white checkers and the metall colour of the armour could make the overall look off the unit turn into one white/grey/blackish blurr. Maybe doing the lances in a warm wooden colour would be more effective to let the Lances stand out, together with a red streamer.




I hope me being direct does not bother you to much dear Sir.  :biggriin:

Thanks for posting Naitsabes!

Cheers,
Henerius
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Rogers Kul on February 29, 2016, 12:31:59 PM
Oh my Khorne...
This is awesome, brutal, fantastic... No words, just  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

I've been reading the entire blog and clearly there some people here who enjoy the hobby in the same way: epic battles, historical background, lagre painted armies and awesome scenery. Congratulations for your efforts. Keep it on!

If you need some scenery ideas to buit Volganof, here maybe I can help you: http://thefallofaltdorf.blogspot.com.es/p/blog-page.html

May I ask what the model for this giant Krankarok the Black? He clearly ridicules my Kholek Suneater...!  :icon_cry:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 29, 2016, 04:41:49 PM
Excellent stuff going on here! :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::

I see one of the lances painted in black and white length wise.  That is thge only other one I've noticed done that way, outside of an older general on a griffon that I gave a lance to in making him.  His lance is painted black and yellow along its length, and my figure represents one of my Averland characters, a mercenary commander named Heinrich von Furstenburg.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: ZeroTwentythree on March 01, 2016, 06:14:44 AM
I really like the knight conversions and painting. Perfectly fit the theme. Thanks for the battle shots -- awesome looking game!

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 02, 2016, 05:20:24 AM
I really like the knight conversions and painting. Perfectly fit the theme. Thanks for the battle shots -- awesome looking game!
wow, looks good
Pointers:
Use a large brush ...  :icon_wink:

Seriously, I'm not sure what kind of pointers you mean considering your excellent paint jobs in this blog.   :unsure:

Excellent work on those knights BTW!  :eusa_clap:
They do indeed look good. Anything that breaks up the look of the basic plastic Empire knights is a good thing, really.
thanks for taking the time to comment, guys! and yes on top of my GW grievance list is that they never updated the knights. They had the technology... Also, 'large brush' check!  :wink:

Oh my Khorne...
This is awesome, brutal, fantastic... No words, just  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

I've been reading the entire blog and clearly there some people here who enjoy the hobby in the same way: epic battles, historical background, lagre painted armies and awesome scenery. Congratulations for your efforts. Keep it on!

If you need some scenery ideas to buit Volganof, here maybe I can help you: http://thefallofaltdorf.blogspot.com.es/p/blog-page.html

May I ask what the model for this giant Krankarok the Black? He clearly ridicules my Kholek Suneater...!  :icon_cry:
Don't take it personal, he ridicules everyone. See the guy to the right of the tape measure? That's a regular dragon ogre. I think at this point the shaggoth had already left the field with an inferiority complex.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0104_1.jpg)
Legend says Krakanrok is the size of the mountain and when he wakes it would be the end of the world. so, they only exaggerated  the mountain part, and not by much. The model is based on something from here:  http://www.resin-kit.com/ but then rather extensively converted. ...and I had nothing to do with it.

I've looked at your Altdorf blog before, and now am following the Kislev effort. Great stuff, you are well on your way to making it into my personal hall of hobby fame!

Dear Naitsabes,

I have been looking to that unit for 10 or 15 minutes it is a real joy to look at. The conversion work done on the horses is small but effective, choice of models is excellent, paintjob is superb although the lance pole with the stripes looks a bit hurried. Still overall impression is:  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:  that was enjoyable.

The mordheim warband picture is not big enough. I demand close-ups  :closed-eyes:

Pointers:
https://manorhouseworkshop.com/assembly-instructions/how-to-paint-the-wood-and-stone-house/

https://www.miniaturescenery.com/PaintingGuides.asp

Comment on the Knightly order unit:
There is a lot to see on that unit. Each knight, although in  the same colours has a different colour scheme. The only thing binding them as a unit are the shields. I would expect from a knightly order that at least the weapons handed out to them would be uniform.

In the knightly order set there is a possibility to add small streamers (little triangle shaped banners) to the lance poles. I think a smalll touch to improve might be painting the lances in one colour scheme and the streamer on the lance could be the bright red?

-First thought on the lances:  the horizontal stripes? I like the stripes because they remind me of the black and white checker motiv all over the unit. These stripes should although be on all lances equal in shape/width.

-second thought on the lances: The overall black and white checkers and the metall colour of the armour could make the overall look off the unit turn into one white/grey/blackish blurr. Maybe doing the lances in a warm wooden colour would be more effective to let the Lances stand out, together with a red streamer.

I hope me being direct does not bother you to much dear Sir.  :biggriin:

Thanks for posting Naitsabes!

Cheers,
Henerius
wow, thanks Henerius for sharing your thoughts. I will check out the building links. And NOT provide close ups of the Mordheim gang. They wouldn't stand up to it, just a quick and dirty job to have a gang to play with.

Now regarding the lances. I really didn't know what to do with them. As I was painting up the models I tested different patterns. Not too excited about any of them. So, in the end I just left them all as is and thought I could get away with it. But, you won't let me. Thanks for keeping me honest. So, what to do now. The streamers are a great idea but, since my models by and large come from bargain bins and ebay lots I am chronically short on those, few people seem to bother sticking them on...or they fall off before I get my hands on the models. All streamers I have in my bits box are earmarked for the upcoming unit of Reiksguard (The Reiksguard style manual, 18th edition, Altdorf Press 2367 clearly states that every knight needs to affix a gleaming red pennant before the first charge). I guess I could still incorporate some red into the lance or make them brown but, I want to make sure there is enough black-white in the models to make them recognizably Ostland. Anybody want to weigh in (preferably with a strong opinion)?

Excellent stuff going on here! :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::

I see one of the lances painted in black and white length wise.  That is thge only other one I've noticed done that way, outside of an older general on a griffon that I gave a lance to in making him.  His lance is painted black and yellow along its length, and my figure represents one of my Averland characters, a mercenary commander named Heinrich von Furstenburg.

Thanks. Again the lances. The length-wise pattern was one I tried but I wasn't convinced. I think overall the pattern I like best is the broad stripes on the front right guy (note that lance is regular size and straight as evidenced by the next picture...lens distortion you won this one  :x ). Ah, the fun of procrastinating. Help me out here  :blush:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Feb2016 - Raukov Household knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 27, 2016, 04:00:16 AM
26Mar2016

Greetings, everyone. I am spending most of my painting time these days on a rather substantial unit of Greatswords. About halfway through at this point but on the side I have finished up the BSB to go with the Raukov Knights so that’s what is on the menu today. I present to you Marek von Raukov, Banner Bearer of Ostland.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0387.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0389.jpg)
And a last one with the motto of House Raukov:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0388.jpg)

Marek is from a cadet branch of House Raukov. While his appointment was originally an old favor his father called in from the Elector Count, Marek has proven himself a worthy Battle Standard Bearer. At Valmir’s side he has hunted down beastmen and chaos cultist all across Ostland and beyond. He took part in the punitive expedition to Norsca the year prior and distinguished himself there in the Battle of Cragmuire where he kept the banner flying despite a serious injury until victory was achieved. Marek had recovered his strength just in time to follow Valmir von Raukov south into the Empire and now he is back with the Household knights arriving just in time to tip the scales of Volganof’s fate. 

Here is the complete unit of knights with Valmir and Marek as they will ride to the defense of Volganof…one day.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0391.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0390.jpg)

Now the last member of the Raukov family I need for this scenario is Vassily von Raukov. The younger son of Valmir is a capable administrator whose organizational efforts greatly increased Volganof’s defenses or a cowardly pencil pusher who doesn’t know the point from the hilt on his sword. This depends on who you ask and really, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. I am a bit stuck on the model to use for Vassily. It should be a rather portly fellow in fine clothing. GW used some guy that I don’t recognize (if you do please enlighten me, page 476 of the BRB). Ideally I would use the merchant:
(http://solegends.com/citc46/201007empireguys/_MG_1731x-02.jpg)
But, getting that model doesn’t agree with also sending my kids to college one day. I do have the Leonardo guy (well, not exactly, the picture is from a talented guy called 023, mine is currently soaking in simple green):
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/ZeroTwentythree/mburg/loe01.jpg)
I was thinking I could hide his bald head under a nice floppy hat, add a sheathed sword and greenstuff the cannon balls into a rock. But, it seems hard to convert that hand with the little tool and the beard will make him look old even if I don’t paint it grey.

Anyone have a better suggestion for Vassily? Some kitbash I am not thinking of maybe? I just don’t know how I could pull off the portliness.

That’s all for today. The official Volganof counter:
688/966 (surprise, one more done than last time)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: mousekiller on March 27, 2016, 04:25:47 AM
That daemon is HUGE!  Really great stuff in this thread... painting, models, game play!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: Zak on March 27, 2016, 04:28:49 AM
word
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: VonOttenheim on March 27, 2016, 08:05:46 AM
Love the knights unit and its conversions, especially the BSB.  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: Rogers Kul on March 27, 2016, 08:25:38 AM
Fantastic BSB! I really like this unit.

About the little von Raukov, I see two options:

- changing the head of Leonardo for another younger. This is not easy, I know, but is cheap.
- using Marco Colombo model. Not extremely expensive around here (about 20-30 euros).

(http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/img48c52e0a10f03.jpg)


Edit: Oh wait! and what about the old model of Marius Leitdorf? You can cut his legs and fit him a swordmasters'. Could work...
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 30, 2016, 03:50:33 AM
Thanks for all your comments guys!   :::cheers:::

- using Marco Colombo model. Not extremely expensive around here (about 20-30 euros).

Edit: Oh wait! and what about the old model of Marius Leitdorf? You can cut his legs and fit him a swordmasters'. Could work...

I had thought of Marco Colombo as well but, I am more looking in the 2-3 dollar range. so he's out baring some lucky flea market find. One of the old Elector Counts might do. I'll have to look into that. Thanks. My only concern is that none of them are corpulent enough...at least that's how I picture Vassili. The Kislev Boyar is too warlike. Coming to think of it, there just aren't too many overweight warhammer models (outside the ogre range).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: Midaski on March 30, 2016, 07:39:37 AM
Coming to think of it, there just aren't too many overweight warhammer models (outside the ogre range).

The plastic Bretonnian sprue has one - supposed to be some sort of 'homage' to Friar Tuck  :biggriin:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: stareso on April 18, 2016, 03:40:56 PM
Superb BSB and unit of heavy cavalry. Creative conversions!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 18, 2016, 05:35:33 PM
Thanks, Stareso! I am working through a substantial greatswords. it has become a test of stamina, turns out I don't have too much at the moment.  :icon_rolleyes: But, it will get done eventually and then I'll do a proper update.

Coming to think of it, there just aren't too many overweight warhammer models (outside the ogre range).

The plastic Bretonnian sprue has one - supposed to be some sort of 'homage' to Friar Tuck  :biggriin:

I had missed this gem of advice. This guy has potential if I can put on puffy sleeves and maybe something else around the shoulder/neck area.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2012/8/1/396885_sm-Conversion,%20Drill%20Abbot,%20Ecclesiarchy,%20Erasmus%20Gotthardt,%20Inq28,%20Inquisitor.JPG)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2016 - Raukov BSB)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 04, 2016, 07:55:18 PM
2Jun2016
Well, it’s been a while. Yet still, this update is rather wimpy as you’ll see below. I have finished painting the big unit of greatswords except for the standard where my ambition collides with my skill level. It’ll get resolved one way or the other and most likely that unit will be my next installment for this project log. But, for now, here is another mortar for the walls of Volganof, part of the Nordland contingent. I have four more cannons ahead of me and then I am done with the artillery.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0397.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0398.jpg)

I painted this for a painting competition on the EEFL forum. And, just as an aside, that forum is a friendly place and if you are still interested in the world (and the ruleset) that was, go check it out, http://eefl.freeforums.net/ (http://eefl.freeforums.net/)

I put some more (actually, probably too much) thought into how to represent Vassily von Raukov (remember? the big man’s brother, administrator, arrogant snob and according to some a coward). Originally I wanted a portly figure and it seemed there was a Bretonnian men-at-arm that would fit the bill. I sourced the model from a friendly local Bret player but, now I am unsure. It seems hard to put puffy sleeves on and the whole chest area is way too ‘medieval peasant’. And, then I stumbled upon a treasure in the local store’s bits box. Puffy, expensive looking clothing extraordinaire and also as classic as it gets when it comes to models. Not portly, but he doesn’t look like an accomplished fighter either, so still fits the bill in a way. Here is what I am rambling about:

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0399.jpg)
So, two options for Vassily, which way to go? I suppose I could do try both and then denote the less successful one to an unnamed champion in a non-descript swordsmen unit? The Warhammer word is a harsh place after all and not every model gets their dream job.

That’s all for today. The official Volganof counter:
692/966
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jun2016 - mortar)
Post by: The Real Rick Salamone on June 04, 2016, 11:26:04 PM
This is going to sound like a weird comment but I suggest a larger patch of that static grass at the front of the mortar base. The grayish basing and the gunmetal blend together visually and I think the green grass would break it up as seen from the front.


EEFL!
EEFL.freeforums.net
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jun2016 - mortar)
Post by: Rogers Kul on June 05, 2016, 07:53:29 AM
I beg for the bretonian model!

Fantastic mortar. A great job on a regular model  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jun2016 - mortar)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 05, 2016, 05:43:30 PM
This is going to sound like a weird comment but I suggest a larger patch of that static grass at the front of the mortar base. The grayish basing and the gunmetal blend together visually and I think the green grass would break it up as seen from the front.
not weird, valid! and easy to implement. thanks

I beg for the bretonian model!

Fantastic mortar. A great job on a regular model  :eusa_clap:
thanks. alright, I was tending towards the metal guy but now I will have to do both. I may swear (maybe even cry) as I hack and saw to implement the puffy sleeves. And, it will all be on you!  :-P
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jun2016 - mortar)
Post by: Warlord on June 07, 2016, 04:51:45 AM
I like the metal guy.

Though give bretonnian a headswap - use one of the plastic greatsword heads and paint him colourful enough and he should be fine.

I'm not sure about the colour of the monkeys face - looks a bit pale?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Jun2016 - mortar)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 19, 2016, 01:14:32 AM
I'm not sure about the colour of the monkeys face - looks a bit pale?

I based this on a real monkey...well not quite. I did a google image search. But, I agree, it's not quite defined enough. Below is the other extreme when it comes to monkey face colors. Maybe the third time will be the charm and I find a happy medium.

-------
18Jun2016

Update time! I’ve talked the talk for long enough, here they finally are. The Stalwart Bulls. Heroes of the Lynsk. At that disastrous attempt to stop Lord Mortkins invasion in Kislev they alone stood their ground at the river crossing and bought enough time to turn a chaotic rout into a somewhat orderly retreat.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0409.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0410.jpg)

At Volganof they form Oleg von Raukov’s personal guard and will defend their lord to the last man….which will hopefully take a while, they do have a 5++ ward save after all.

Here are some close-ups. Sculpting the fur caps was a bit hit and miss (this is my usual style). I am quite happy with some of them. I also think the metal and plastic version go together okay with a consistent paint job. I did run out of greatswords towards the end and had to fit in a few state troops but they blend into the masses. As per usual I tried to stick with the Ostland stereotype of manly beards.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0406.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0408.jpg)
Well, every regiment needs a mascot. Seems like I have a little bit of a monkey theme going lately but, I assure you, it is just a coincidence.

 I made two command groups. This allows me to split the unit into something more useful in a regular game. I’ve played a few 2500pt games with 2x30 greatswords. It’s kind of fun to have a nigh unbreakable center but, not too effective.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0404.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0405.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0414.jpg)

Now that this unit is in the book, there is really only one more big hurdle to completing the army: 40 more Reiksguard knights. After that it’s just a few more units of state troops and some odds and ends. So, I am not quite on the home stretch but, getting there. I am no Catalan, so I will need to recover a bit from all the batch painting, maybe with some nice crazy chaos models. Stay tuned.

That’s all for today. The official Volganof counter:
752/966
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: Doc J on June 19, 2016, 02:21:36 AM
I have never seen a more macho unit of greatswords  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 19, 2016, 04:03:12 AM
(http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/5/49/1332232220-Screen_Shot_2012-02-19_at_11_41_13_PM.png)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: VonOttenheim on June 19, 2016, 06:02:35 AM
I´m in awe.

Love your work. :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: LarsRock on June 19, 2016, 06:15:54 AM
Those guys look really cool! :-o
I really like that you have used metals, plastics and kit bashed greatswords, it gives the units a great dynamic feel!
Also, great banners! :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: Zak on June 19, 2016, 01:29:56 PM
very nice
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: errantgamer on June 20, 2016, 10:37:51 PM
Amazing effort! You are truly nearly there!

I expect a gargantuan battle report when the battle is eventually fought..
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: Hoodling on June 21, 2016, 11:41:20 PM
Great work. That was a lot of fuzzy hats to sculpt!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Jun2016 - greatswords)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 06, 2016, 06:25:30 AM
Thanks guys for checking these out.

I´m in awe.
Love your work. :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Thanks, high praise. I'll try to keep it up!

Those guys look really cool! :-o
I really like that you have used metals, plastics and kit bashed greatswords, it gives the units a great dynamic feel!
Also, great banners! :eusa_clap:
I do like to avoid clone troopers as much as possible. The banners were a major pain in the rear. I couldn't do freehand to save my life so I am stuck with printing and overpainting. It was hard to get them out in the right size and then carefully re-trace the lines and white doesn't give the right margin of error for a person as shaky as me. Certainly aiming for more colorful banners on the next units.

very nice
cheers! (judging from your avatar you figured out how to keep these negative waves away)

Amazing effort! You are truly nearly there!

I expect a gargantuan battle report when the battle is eventually fought..
yeah so, we don't have a good track record with that. but, we'll certainly try. it will be a rather special event.

Great work. That was a lot of fuzzy hats to sculpt!
Thanks, Sir. Indeed, I am past 100 for these hats now. Good training for one day doing Kislevites.

---------------------------
right, so I did do quite a bit of hobby but lacking behind on the photography (while admittedly not obvious from the quality of pictures I post, it does take some time to set things up for these). But, I recently bought some of the armored warhorses from our very own White Knight and wanted to post quick size comparison pictures that may be useful to some.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0415.jpg)
so here is the one horse I put together next to 25 years of GW offerings. It does fit in quite nicely. Putting together a metal miniature was a good reminder how easy plastic and resin are in that respect. But, all parts fit really well and there are only really minimal mold lines. And, the casting quality is excellent. I was a bit concerned about attaching the tail but drilling that hole through the armor into the two part horse body right at the seam was a non-issue.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0416.jpg)
The legs might be a little slender in comparison but, I don't think it's a problem. There are a number of leg poses and they are easy to bend for even more variety. I am not the expert on horse movement so not sure if all possible horse half combinations make sense.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0417.jpg)
Here you can see how well it fits height wise. Also of note: I used the most aggressively forward kicking horse yet, it still ranks up with the horse in front. REALLY happy with that. I wish they had sculpted on a blanket or similar. With some legs it won't matter as they come with more gear but there is quite a bit of horse peaking through with the standard plastic knight legs. I may try to 'sculpt' a bit of a blanket with some frills when the time comes.

Anyway, I highly recommend these to mix up the ancient GW pony monotony. They fit the bill for me.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: White Knight on August 06, 2016, 11:04:13 AM
Thanks for that review and the pictures.  :happy:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: Zak on August 06, 2016, 01:46:32 PM
perfect comparison, WK I love these Knights and everything else you produce I just wish there was a better way to get them over seas hahaha
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: White Knight on August 06, 2016, 03:00:50 PM
Well perhaps you can start a thread for a collective order to save on shipping if someone is willing to post them on to the other participants.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 06, 2016, 05:25:42 PM
perfect comparison, WK I love these Knights and everything else you produce I just wish there was a better way to get them over seas hahaha

well, it just took a bit of faith. Sometimes when you send money overseas to a random guy on the internet you actually get what you ordered.  :icon_smile: The actual process is quite easy, just send an email to get the paypal account, then send the money. No forms to fill out, no registering on some sketchy website and entering a credit card number - twice. Refreshing really. Shipping is a factor (~$9), don't know how much you could save by collective ordering and redistributing stateside. These horses are heavy. The real way to save there is to order many horses just for yourself  :closed-eyes:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: Lateksimajava on August 08, 2016, 06:17:45 AM
Very impressive unit of Greatswords!  :smile2: :::cheers:::

Usually I don't like fur hats but these really look good.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 09, 2016, 03:05:31 AM
Very impressive unit of Greatswords!  :smile2: :::cheers:::

Usually I don't like fur hats but these really look good.

Thanks! Glad the fur hats passed your muster. Using my power of selective photography I avoided showing you the more dodgy hats. Some aren't quite following the laws of physics.

-------------------------------------
8Aug2016

An update for real this time. First of all I’ve finished the first house of Volganof. It came together pretty well. I think it’s always a juggling act to make things good-looking yet sturdy enough. We’ll see how this one holds up to the rigors of gaming, I couldn’t resist adding some bits that are sticking out quite a bit.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0418.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0420.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0421.jpg)
Also, in that last one you can see a bit of my current chaos project sticking out. I’ve started calling it the ‘milka beast’ due to an in hindsight unfortunate color choice. Anyway, that’s for a future update.

Today’s other topic is a good old galloper gun. I stumbled upon this beauty when I was rummaging through an old box hunting for state troop recruits and decided to update the paint job. I do have some fond memories of getting the galloper gun (must have been sometime late in the last century I guess) and taking flank shots of the nasties of the day. Then it collected dust for a long time. But, now it seemed like the perfect addition to the all-cav relief force. I eventually will have to look for suitable rules, I seem to remember it could march 16” and then shoot which seems a bit outrageous.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0402.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0401.jpg)

Now to end on a solemn note: my Volganof gaming buddy, master of all things chaos, will move to the other end of the country in a few weeks. I know what you are thinking, how dare he put career and family and happiness above a game of toy soldiers. That’s what I told him too but, he did not change his mind. So, we are in a bit of a pickle in terms of actually playing this game.  Getting together for a game of this magnitude might be worth the trip, we’ll just have to roll with the punches and see what the future holds. I am in way to deep and certainly will continue working on this army as my main hobby project, I figure there is another year or two of mileage in it. But, there might be more frequent chaotic interludes and, there probably won’t be a second house for Volganof anytime soon. I simply wouldn’t know where to store it.

That’s all for today, upward and onward, headwind or not. The official Volganof counter:
756/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Zygmund on August 09, 2016, 08:34:10 AM
Beautiful classic model painted very nicely!

The house is ace. :)

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 5Aug2016 - WK horse)
Post by: Rogers Kul on August 09, 2016, 10:37:56 AM
That’s all for today, upward and onward, headwind or not. The official Volganof counter:
756/969

Came on Naitsabes! You got it!
Nice work with this house. Hirts Arts, cardboard... and those little elements that convert this building in a warhammer building (wood sign, window, chimney...).
How many houses do you plan to build?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Doc J on August 09, 2016, 01:00:42 PM
The building looks great, I like the colors you chose they are very realistic and earthy. I think the galloper gun would be a great addition to an all cavalry force and again you made a good color choice for the crew muted tones and not flashy.  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 13, 2016, 02:42:51 AM
Beautiful classic model painted very nicely!

The house is ace. :)

-Z
The building looks great, I like the colors you chose they are very realistic and earthy. I think the galloper gun would be a great addition to an all cavalry force and again you made a good color choice for the crew muted tones and not flashy.  :::cheers:::
Thanks guys. The hardest choice was the roof. Still not totally sure if reddish would have been a better choice. But, there is one way to find out...once I built the next one.

Came on Naitsabes! You got it!
Nice work with this house. Hirts Arts, cardboard... and those little elements that convert this building in a warhammer building (wood sign, window, chimney...).http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum/Smileys/phpBB/huh.gif
How many houses do you plan to build?
Cheers mate. My project is only slightly ambitious. Nothing like the madness you are pursuing. Eventually, I want to build maybe on the order of 10 houses and walls and high towers but, not in the foreseeable future. I think I may need to buy a real house first to store it all :? :?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Rogers Kul on August 15, 2016, 12:14:03 PM
Cheers mate. My project is only slightly ambitious. Nothing like the madness you are pursuing. Eventually, I want to build maybe on the order of 10 houses and walls and high towers but, not in the foreseeable future. I think I may need to buy a real house first to store it all :? :?

Exactly, this is the next level in our scale of wargaming: thinking on the next home in terms of playing, modelling and storing warhammer!  :icon_lol: (I did it, recently...)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: GamesPoet on August 15, 2016, 02:52:14 PM
Enjoying the softer tones of your colors, like the blue & yellow of the mortar crew, the green of the great swordsmen, and the blue of the galloper gun crew. :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Illumini on August 26, 2016, 08:31:44 PM
This is madness. Really impressive project!

Too bad you dont have hundreds of pics of the Kislev battle. It looks absolutely epic.

Remember to take more pictures whenever the battle for Volganof happens  :-D
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 31, 2016, 05:52:11 AM
Exactly, this is the next level in our scale of wargaming: thinking on the next home in terms of playing, modelling and storing warhammer!  :icon_lol: (I did it, recently...)
Right yeah. I'll run that by the wife and get back to you.  :roll:

This is madness. Really impressive project!

Too bad you dont have hundreds of pics of the Kislev battle. It looks absolutely epic.

Remember to take more pictures whenever the battle for Volganof happens  :-D
Thanks, yes, if and when Volganof happens there will be better documentation. Chances are we'll have automated mini-drones taking pictures from impossible angles by then...

Enjoying the softer tones of your colors, like the blue & yellow of the mortar crew, the green of the great swordsmen, and the blue of the galloper gun crew. :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Thanks! It is the mystic power of the devlan mud for the most part that does it.


Okay, so not really an update today, but I am unreasonably excited about my progress on the Vasili-off, i.e. the two models that are going face to face to represent Vasili von Raukov one day. So I wanted to share.

I've started from the fat Bretonnian guy from a few pages back here and for a while was struggling what to do about the medieval chest and shoulder area. Until it dawned on me: when in doubt, slap on some fur and so I did and it looks quite alright to me. At the moment Bret-based Vasili is my early favorite, let's see what the paint job will do.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0432.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0433.jpg)

Hey, I may open this to a popular vote! You get to choose my Vasili. But, let me get these guys painted first.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: GamesPoet on August 31, 2016, 03:40:27 PM
Enjoying the softer tones of your colors, like the blue & yellow of the mortar crew, the green of the great swordsmen, and the blue of the galloper gun crew. :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Thanks! It is the mystic power of the devlan mud for the most part that does it.
Always enjoyed Devlan mud, not sure I have more than one pot remaining though.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Aug2016 - house & galloper gun)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 22, 2016, 04:34:37 AM
21 Sep2016
Time for a chaotic interlude, not much to see here for faithful servants of Sigmar.

Here is a Mutalith Vortex Beast in all the glory I can bestow upon it. This kit gets a lot of flak on the internet but I kind of like it (though the slaughterbrute head version admittedly is terrible). I don't like the stock pose of waving-and-about-to-fall-over so repositioned one arm which required a bit of shoulder surgery. After some back-and-forth I decided to leave off the vortex thing that should be on its back, the model is incredibly busy as it is.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0439.jpg)
I kind of like how otherworldy blue it looks. The big horn on the top left and the armor plates right above and below is what I added to cover up the hole left after the arm repositioning. I think it does blend in because again, the whole critter is such a mess of armor plates and spikes and horns.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0442.jpg)
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0441.jpg)
so many spikes. I admit painting got painful at times. The wall became necessary because I couldn't get the arm to reach all the way to the ground. But, now I like it.

(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0443.jpg)
"There is something behind me, right?"

Seriously, being a soldier is hard enough when fighting bad guys with guns or swords. but this? Not sure how the Empire finds recruits. Or maybe these Old Worlders are from a hardier stock than me.

While I was at it I also snapped two pictures of these guys...they took the wrong turn on the Path to Glory.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0445.jpg)

This is the freakiest part, looks like Gollum failed to reach demonhood:
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0446.jpg)

Finally, just to prove I haven’t given up on the Empire, here are the first of the Scarlet Curs assembling (also some Reiksguard in the background). I want the Curs to look like seasoned no-nonsense soldiers. so few frills, proper boots to hunt down beastmen in the soggy fens of Ostland and so forth. We’ll see how it goes.
(http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/naitsabes_bucket/DSC_0447.jpg)

That's all for now. No Volganof counter this time, it would be too depressing.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Naitsabes on October 13, 2016, 05:23:35 AM
aha, no love for chaos. there may yet  be hope for the Empire  :roll:

this really isn't a proper update. I am just trying to solicit some feedback on the shield design for the Scarlet Curs. Here is where I am at:
(http://i.imgur.com/Cfh3Iit.jpg)
Due to the name of the regiment, 'red' should somehow be incorporated. I also want to use the black decals. And, the regiment is from Ostland, so black-white needs to be in, for example I wouldn't want to use red-white quartering.

The shield on the right is my best effort. But, maybe somebody has a better idea?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: King on October 13, 2016, 08:25:39 AM
Why not a red shield with the black wolf decal and a black and white chequered trim at the top of the shield?  It will combine all your need together, however your shields look ace in any case.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: steveb on October 13, 2016, 02:54:32 PM
they are curs, no set design, do each one different but using the same colors throughout.  I like the direction that you are taking this unit, and I love the mix of figures, I do not think I have seen a heroquest henchman in a long time,  that is what he is, isn't it?  steveb
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Naitsabes on October 13, 2016, 04:51:07 PM
cheers guys. I will take these under consideration. If I do a bunch of different design I could keep the decal as the unifying theme. And, my first attempt will be putting a checkered trim on that left-most red shield. All the blame will be on you, King, if that shield goes south.  :wink:

and yes, steveb, that's an advanced heroquest henchmen. I got a couple in an ebay lot. Surprisingly good sculpts considering their age. They even come with two different halberd tops and there is a sword version. Planning to do some head swaps when I bulk out the unit.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Warlord on October 14, 2016, 01:36:49 AM
I just want to say, i love this thread. The scarlet curs look great.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on October 14, 2016, 08:33:59 AM
Splendid work! I love the colours and those Spawns are damn disturbing!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Gankom on October 15, 2016, 02:10:06 AM
Awesome work! I love the big chaos beastie, your right about the blue looking very otherworldly. The tentacles are going to give any Empire solider nightmares.

The Cur's are looking good as well. I like the way the red and black is working.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Drakenhof on October 17, 2016, 03:38:42 PM
Nice job on those Ostlanders! Love that scheme. I would test red for the shield, maybe with a white figure in.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Sep2016 - chaotic interlude)
Post by: Naitsabes on October 29, 2016, 06:39:20 AM
Thanks guys! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

this is just a little update to keep me motivated as I didn't have much time lately for hobby. Portly potential Vasili is mostly done. Skinny potential Vasili still needs much more work (and hence is not pictured). Also, here are some checkered shields. painful stuff, I don't know how these space ork guys do it.

(http://i.imgur.com/YMKrlgI.jpg)

I was wondering if some of you have suggestions how to get the glossy sheen off the decals. I'd like to blend them in a little better. I guess the black could stay shiny but could I just paint the clear rim over with whatever the base color is? simple spray matt varnish didn't do it.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Oct2016 - just one guy)
Post by: Zygmund on October 29, 2016, 08:57:35 AM
Love the way you paint your Ostlanders. That single figure is really nice.

You can paint over the decals. Or use a tad bit heavier varnish with a brush. Many seem to use the decal as a base, and even paint over the emblem itself. Hope you find a pleasing solution to this!

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Oct2016 - just one guy)
Post by: King on October 29, 2016, 01:12:05 PM
Nice checkers.  The shields look ace like this  :::cheers::: Also Vasili looks the part too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Oct2016 - just one guy)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 23, 2016, 11:42:54 PM
Zygmund, I think the decals look okay now, much less glossy. followed your advice and just painted over them.

Mr. King, thanks! but, is that Vassili? ..not just yet. see below   :wink:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
23Nov2016

The great Vassili-off

okay, the time has come to make your voice heard! …and there shall be no Electoral College.

One of the main characters in the Volganof battle is Vassili von Raukov, son of the Elector count Valmir von Raukov. He is a capable administrator whose organizational skill in the months before that fateful battle gave the Empire a fighting chance according to some. Others see him as a cowardly drunk who wallowed about and tried to avoid the fighting. Maybe he is both? And, nobody claims he is much of a fighter. In the game he is pretty much just a liability. A guy with swordsman stats who gives up objective points if he gets killed. He 'leads' a unit of halberdiers, the Scarlet Curs.

I've painted up two models that I think could represent Vassili and now I will ask the internet to vote for their favorite Vassili. The other model will become the poor nameless unit champion, most likely going down in a challenge against some chaos guy in a feeble attempt to keep Vassili alive. The warhammer world is a harsh place indeed.


(http://i.imgur.com/Vr88ohw.jpg)
(http://imgur.com/94qEId5)

wait, what's this
(http://i.imgur.com/9j49JvD.jpg)
nevermind, just a photobombing Reaper Bones griffin. let's carry on

(http://i.imgur.com/yj9IQXI.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jazS0ZL.jpg)

and lastly, to show how they fit into the (as of yet unfinished) unit
(http://i.imgur.com/pWMhoOw.jpg)

So, who is it going to be? Portly Vassili on the left or lanky Vassili on the right? Your vote counts (and no, there is no fancy poll. you will have to post the old fashioned way).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Voter for Vassili)
Post by: Warlord on November 23, 2016, 11:54:20 PM
They both are great models, and i really really like them. However now that i have seen them painted, neither fit the character in my mind.
I do think a good administrator should be lanky, and a bad one fat. However i also consider a good administrator to have no beard.

Hmmm.
Anyway, i love your models and your thread!

What colour do you put under your white by the way? I like the way you do it...
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Voter for Vassili)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on November 23, 2016, 11:55:07 PM
The one in red says e's dunnit! The beautiful model on the left. Looks like the champ will have to hold his hand!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Zak on November 24, 2016, 03:01:46 AM
love it
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: takenoko on November 24, 2016, 06:08:32 AM
As always, beautofully painted models! I really like both of them, but I think only the one on the right could be interpreted as being  a skilled tactician - the other has obviously been too busy stuffing his face to have to have time to think of war!

Also I really love how you painted the guy on the right's clothes, absolutely brilliant work!  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers::: That does go for the shield as well, though!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Rogers Kul on November 24, 2016, 03:35:15 PM
Left Vassily!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Voter for Vassili)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 24, 2016, 06:44:10 PM
cheers, guys. Glad to see so many of care about making Volganof great...again.

As always, beautofully painted models! I really like both of them, but I think only the one on the right could be interpreted as being  a skilled tactician - the other has obviously been too busy stuffing his face to have to have time to think of war!
hey, many a great leader has been portly!

They both are great models, and i really really like them. However now that i have seen them painted, neither fit the character in my mind.
I do think a good administrator should be lanky, and a bad one fat. However i also consider a good administrator to have no beard.

Hmmm.
Anyway, i love your models and your thread!

What colour do you put under your white by the way? I like the way you do it...
If you don't like your choices I hear you are supposed to vote for the lesser evil. Or you could always put the griffin as the write-in candidate.

For the white I use two methods. When there are deep folds (like lanky Vassili's puffy sleeves) I base coat with bleached bone (or screaming skull I think it's called now). Then wash with agrax earthshade, then a thinned down layer of off-white (I use GW Pallid Wych Flesh) pretty much everywhere except the folds. Sometimes I repeat this step depending on how 'white' I want it. Finally, a little bit of plain white on the parts that stick out the most.

For less 'foldy' areas (e.g. last picture, the pants on the guy on the right). I start with an off-white basecoat, then proceed as above. This means the folds won't be as stark.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Voter for Vassili)
Post by: Rogers Kul on November 24, 2016, 07:12:27 PM
cheers, guys. Glad to see so many of care about making Volganof great...again.

 :icon_lol:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Doc J on November 25, 2016, 01:04:32 PM
The fatter one, it makes more sense that the son of an elector would be relaxing and eating alot of the time, they are both great but the choice is clear
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 28, 2016, 04:13:12 AM
alright guys, the votes have been counted. It's a landslide:

Portly Vassili: 10
Lanky Vassili: 2
Griffin (write-in candidate): 1

Thanks for voting. So, Vassili "Portly" von Raukov shall represent. The lanky guys will be the unit champion..but, as a consolation price, he will keep the name. He will be Vassili Wiesniak. A brave man who worked his way through the ranks and now leads the famous Scarlet Curs. I'll give you some more background once I've finished the whole unit.

cheers!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Doc J on November 28, 2016, 01:30:35 PM
I demand a recount
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: GamesPoet on November 28, 2016, 01:46:31 PM
Like what I'm seeing of these Ostlander Halberdiers! :icon_biggrin: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Warlord on November 29, 2016, 04:01:27 AM
I demand a recount

Me too! Surely the griffin won!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 01, 2017, 11:24:35 PM
Get over it, Vassili won!  :blush:

------------------------------
1Jan2017

Well, 2016 was not the year of Volganof (I looked at my older posts and apparently I had high hopes ~a year ago). This time my best guess is that neither will 2017 be the year we play the actual game. But, there will be progress. And it shall start right now!

Just to wrap the exciting election we had, I want to leave you with this family picture, now that the von Raukovs are complete.
From RIGHT to LEFT:
Valmir von Raukov, Elector Count of Ostland
His oldest son Oleg, valiant defender of Volganof
His younger son Vassili, valiant administrator of Volganof
And Cousin Marek, faithful battle standard bearer for Valmir
(http://i.imgur.com/1Dh1Yep.jpg)

Next, an update on the Scarlet Curs. I am about 3/4 of my way through the unit. I can’t help myself, every last halberdier needs to be converted somehow and so the hobby sessions tick by. I’ve also made another halberdier ogre and tried to make a nice shirt. It turns out with these models you really need to do a double mastectomy to have a good basis. Yes, it feels awkward; no you shouldn’t do it while the kids are around. I am quite happy with the back. The front still could be better. Next time!
(http://i.imgur.com/h07axCB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/UjNNUOd.jpg)

I’ve also chipped away at the last big stumbling block for this army: The second unit of Reiksguard.
(http://i.imgur.com/DKxveJk.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/2LiCMcS.jpg)
I landed some more of the metal models which saved me from quite a bit of sash sculpting. I am running low now on the swords and I was all but out of pennants. But, a Dark Knight came to the rescue and sent me a nice little baggie of bits. A most generous donation indeed. Now, this doesn’t mean I am in the clear, so if you have these swords and/or pennants collecting dust in your bits box, please get in touch.

The Reiksguard here include this ‘Heroic Knight with Lance’.
(http://i.imgur.com/jwFkzzi.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Acv18fd.jpg)
The sculpt wasn’t too great in places, state-of-the-art 25 years ago. But, he certainly will make a fine unit champion. Does anyone know where the horse head is from? Well, only thirty more to go for this unit.


Next time I will most certainly present to you the Scarlet Curs…unless I get distracted by that box of Demigryphs Santa brought me last week.

The official Volganof counter:
767/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on January 02, 2017, 12:28:07 AM
These rieksguard are incredible! Don't think you could ask for better.  Beautiful unit
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: Zak on January 02, 2017, 01:35:11 AM
NOW THATS WARHAMMER
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: Rowsdower on January 02, 2017, 06:29:44 AM
Am i too late for this?
I just wanted to say GOOD JOB :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on January 02, 2017, 04:02:31 PM
Splendid stuff! I agree with zak - THIS is the essence of Warhammer. :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 03, 2017, 04:13:42 AM
Gee, thanks guys for the high praise. Yep, I am stuck in my old ways in the old world painting old models.  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: Rogers Kul on January 03, 2017, 09:26:46 AM
I don't know where this horse head comes from, but is really nice.
Very good job Naitsy, very good job...  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: White Knight on January 03, 2017, 11:25:19 AM
The head came with one of the old mounted blood dragon vampires.

(http://store.miniwargaming.com/images/D/mounted-vampire-lord-pfjm3.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Jan2017 - Reiksguard & Raukovs)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 03, 2017, 08:21:49 PM
thanks, Rogers. Now get back to building the city of Kislev!  :::cheers:::

The head came with one of the old mounted blood dragon vampires.
ah, scholars and gentlemen all around. I love this forum.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Nov2016 - Vote for Vassili)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 21, 2017, 09:34:49 PM
Next time I will most certainly present to you the Scarlet Curs…unless I get distracted by that box of Demigryphs Santa brought me last week.

well, what can I say, I did get distracted but not by demigryphs. Sometimes when you buy miniatures in bulk you find a treasure at the bottom of the box. Sometimes you find this:
(http://i.imgur.com/8CN5dRA.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Tz1NzjE.jpg)

I think everything worth saying about the merits of the robohorse has been said previously. But, I will just add that the model is actually nicely proportioned and well sculpted overall. It's just impossible to make something good from a concept so ridiculous. Anyway, it was mostly painted when I got it, just finished it up and now it'll be...a conversation starter in my mini cabinet I guess.

On the chaos side, I touched up some knights and dogs and whatnot. Behold the evil that roams around Volganof.
First and foremost, here are knights of Tzeentch with their sorcerer buddy. These are from before growth hormone therapy became standard in the chaos wastes for man and horse alike.
(http://i.imgur.com/vyYa3Dp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/nQwpleH.jpg)

And, then we have some vicious dogs. you can never have too many dogs.
(http://i.imgur.com/I0drX7W.jpg)

Scarlet Curs are done. Just need to snap some pics.

Upward and onward.

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Jan2017 - Robohorse & Chaos)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 22, 2017, 05:39:44 AM
so as I am launching into a new unit, x-bowmen. And, I've been procrastinating for a while now if I should give them their classic and rather plain weapons or the newer version that has a string. Then I realized, there is a whole internet out there full of strong opinions. so tell me what you would do.

(http://i.imgur.com/545RgZr.jpg)

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Jan2017 - Robohorse & Chaos)
Post by: Warlord on January 22, 2017, 09:19:29 AM
I love the old metal crossbowmen. I would be included to take the smaller metal ones, but if you think they are boring, go for a conversion!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Jan2017 - Robohorse & Chaos)
Post by: Shadespyre on January 22, 2017, 10:33:56 AM
I think it's nice to keep classic models intact where you can
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Jan2017 - Robohorse & Chaos)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 30, 2017, 12:35:23 AM
29Jan2017

Finally, finally finished the Scarlet Curs. Overall happy with the unit, making it a bit rustic with free company parts worked out. I even green stuffed boots on some of them. The decals worked out too, although I am struggling a bit with taking the sheen off. The banner as usual is not quite as awesome as it was in my head but, it’ll do.
(http://i.imgur.com/yjGRYf0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/wjyvAzz.jpg)

The Scarlet Curs hail from the city of Wolfenburg. They are known for their ruffian demeanor and the Wolfenburg city guard tends to not interfere when there is a brawl in the taverns around the Curs’ barracks. At the same time they are known for getting the job done. Be it protecting an outpost along the Salzenroad from a petty bandit king or hunting down beastmen deep in the forests or dealing with a spider goblin infestation in the Scarred Hills.

Here are a few close-ups
(http://i.imgur.com/bAZzJzg.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vTCBKU2.jpg)
(plastics of all ages present, the Curs are not picky)

(http://i.imgur.com/YQIDsnH.jpg)
Why a baby-griff? I’ll spare you the long story, let’s just say the proud Screaming Griffons out of Schonfeld are still looking for their regimental mascot.

(http://i.imgur.com/PSQ4kIv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/HZFwjeO.jpg)

When Wolfenburg is called upon to send their finest, the Scarlet Curs are ready. And so it was at Volganof where the Scarlet Curs fought their way through the Marauder vanguard and reached the city proper only days before the fateful assault. Oleg von Raukov assigned them as a bodyguard for his brother Vassili and so the Scarlet Curs stayed out of the fray initially. However, after Vassili left to check on the supply levels in the keep, they pushed their way to the front line. Just then Lord Mortkin struck down Oleg with a mighty blow, stunning the defenders of Volganof. The Scarlet Curs were the first to recover and rushed in. Some say Lord Mortkin awaited them with arms stretched wide while others claim he was mutilating Oleg’s body, all agree it was the Scarlet Curs who ended Mortkin and his reign of terror. But, the Curs were then inundated by a wave of chaos warriors eager to avenge their fallen lord. The next day Valmir von Raukov himself found the Curs’ regimental colors right next to the body of his favorite son and later personally returned the banner to Wolfenburg.
(http://i.imgur.com/VZcDhGh.jpg)

What’s on my table at the moment? Well, I am working my way through the crossbowmen. In the end I decided to go with the modern weapons after seeing this picture (it may also have to do with the fact that I already have a unit with the classic x-bows).
(http://www.maremmaguide.com/image-files/medieval_crossbow_archers40.jpg)
…and I thought Warhammer weapons were oversized.

(http://i.imgur.com/ZBKv6OY.jpg)
These guys are a real treat to paint.

Upward and onward, I’ve broken into the 800s.

The official Volganof counter:
802/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on January 30, 2017, 01:33:24 AM
Quote Naitsabes: Why a baby-griff? I’ll spare you the long story, let’s just say the proud Screaming Griffons out of Schonfeld are still looking for their regimental mascot.

Excellent!! Made me laugh and that was quite a feat for me today 😸
That first pic looks like a. It from a movie. These guys are great.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Rogers Kul on January 30, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
Great job here. Really.
From the base to the colour scheme, all fit perfectly.
There are A LOT of work, but the final result is awesome: you have a nice, original and bright unit there

 :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Lateksimajava on January 30, 2017, 11:55:57 AM
Always a pleasure to see your awesome stuff!  :::cheers:::

So many things that I like but especially the knights with white lances look great. So do their chaotic colleagues, my favourite chaos models. And of course a horde of Empire infantry is always a sight for sote eyes.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: King on January 30, 2017, 08:45:06 PM
I see that you have taken my advise for the shield designs seriously  :::cheers:::  I am glad to see it works out well as the unit looks awesome and rustic without being too shabby  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: The Black Knight on January 31, 2017, 12:15:33 PM
Fantastic project, great painting/conversions and witty writing  to boot :eusa_clap:!

You guys have some serious dedication, I would have bailed out of a project this demanding years ago most likely. I hope you won't get bored of painting bearded men in pajamas any time soon. Keep it up!

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Zak on February 01, 2017, 04:08:30 AM
holy craptastic those spearmen look great  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 02, 2017, 06:30:07 AM
Thanks for the comments guys, I really appreciate every single on.

I see that you have taken my advise for the shield designs seriously  :::cheers::: 
well, you are the King so, what choice did I have...

I made some good progress on the crossbows tonight. And my gaming buddy for this endeavor might move back to the area later this year so, today was a good day for Volganof.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: RE.Lee on February 02, 2017, 02:52:35 PM
Some lovely halberdiers there! That ogre looks great as well  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Konrad von Richtmark on February 03, 2017, 08:12:50 PM
The Scarlet Curs, eh. I can just imagine there being a colonel somewhere in Wolfenburg keeping a list with two columns, writing a note in the left whenever they do an act of outstanding performance in war, and a note in the right whenever there's an incident of too unprovoked manslaughter or a molestation of a too decent woman. Should the right column ever grow too much longer than the left, demotion to free company status would happen.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on February 13, 2017, 02:06:32 PM
Man that Ogre filler is just great. I love the paintjob and their symbols. Truly great work! :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 13, 2017, 02:21:45 PM
Liking the Scarlet Curs, and looking forward to seeing the crossbowmen when completed! :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 26, 2017, 02:19:12 AM
Some lovely halberdiers there! That ogre looks great as well  :::cheers:::
Man that Ogre filler is just great. I love the paintjob and their symbols. Truly great work! :eusa_clap:
thanks! you know, I realized I now have three of these ogres, i.e. a minimum size unit. Must resist going down that path towards an Ostland-ish Ogre army.

The Scarlet Curs, eh. I can just imagine there being a colonel somewhere in Wolfenburg keeping a list with two columns, writing a note in the left whenever they do an act of outstanding performance in war, and a note in the right whenever there's an incident of too unprovoked manslaughter or a molestation of a too decent woman. Should the right column ever grow too much longer than the left, demotion to free company status would happen.
yes, that is pretty much along the lines of what I was thinking. In the warhammer world it shouldn't be too hard for the brass to find an assignment that'll cut an unruly unit down to size.

Liking the Scarlet Curs, and looking forward to seeing the crossbowmen when completed! :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Thanks. and, wait no more. Here they are:

25Feb2017

Update time. A little unit of Crossbowmen has joined the Nordland contingent at Volganof. Quite charming models from what I consider the Golden Age of Empire miniatures.
(http://i.imgur.com/r7xDKAd.jpg)

For once I am quite happy with the banner. It’s a simple paper print-out of the ‘official’ Nordland banner and then colored in while staying between the lines. My proudest moment was boldly painting over the ship in the center and adding a cross that ended up not terribly crooked …and then doing it again on the reverse. Also, check out the hair on the standard bearer. They don’t sculpt curls like that anymore nowadays.
(http://i.imgur.com/SWXnclY.jpg)

The musician (and maybe the guy on the right) is from a later DoW unit but fits right in with the rest of the unit. It’s all about wearing the right hat.
(http://i.imgur.com/AEwynjw.jpg)

On the side I added to the bad guys. Anybody want to venture a guess what is peeking over the log?
(http://i.imgur.com/ZSzWW25.jpg)

The official Volganof counter:
812/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: White Knight on February 26, 2017, 12:13:22 PM
Lovely colours on those.  :happy:

The musician (and maybe the guy on the right) is from a later DoW unit but fits right in with the rest of the unit. It’s all about wearing the right hat.
(http://i.imgur.com/AEwynjw.jpg)

The muscian is DOW indeed, but the other one is from the right era.  :smile2:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Shadespyre on February 26, 2017, 02:14:51 PM
Lovely colours on those classic crossbowmen. And nice to see what I suppose is an old chaos spawn photobombing them? From one of the sillier spells of chaos models...
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Victor on February 26, 2017, 02:24:30 PM
Lovely project! Nice painting and some fantastic conversions! I'm especially impressed by that huge unit of Reiksguard knights.  That Nordland colour scheme works really well too. Thanks for sharing. :::cheers:::

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on February 26, 2017, 02:37:50 PM
I really like the colour scheme of the crossbow men. Really nice blend
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: RE.Lee on February 26, 2017, 03:52:09 PM
Audacious painting - love it!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Zak on February 27, 2017, 03:04:17 PM
why do those snake heads remind me of the evil dead?? lol
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Alex-bbr on February 27, 2017, 04:55:16 PM
Quote
Quite charming models from what I consider the Golden Age of Empire miniatures.

So true!

Very nice unit, love the color scheme and the painting job.  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 28, 2017, 03:52:55 AM
I like the yellow!

If I recall, those crossbowmen were sold in packs of two, correct?  And if I recall, might have some of the hand gunners from the same era, but don't believe I own any of the crossbowmen unfortunately.  The drummer seems to be from the Marksmen of Mirgliano, and I have a few of those wonderful figures, too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Jan2017 - Halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 28, 2017, 05:27:34 AM
Lovely colours on those.  :happy:

The muscian is DOW indeed, but the other one is from the right era.  :smile2:
I like the yellow!

If I recall, those crossbowmen were sold in packs of two, correct?  And if I recall, might have some of the hand gunners from the same era, but don't believe I own any of the crossbowmen unfortunately.  The drummer seems to be from the Marksmen of Mirgliano, and I have a few of those wonderful figures, too.
cheers guys! I've dug through old army books and googled a bit and the drummer is indeed a Marksmen of Miragliano. The actual crossbowmen are Tilean crossbowmen from late 3/4th edition. I guess that explains the similarity in headgear. It is simply the latest fashion worn all over Tilea. There never were command models for the original crossbowmen so that musician was a good choice if I dare say so. The standard bearer is of course a simple conversion using one of the old metal banner poles while leaving off the crossbow.

I am pretty sure there were more than two guys in the blisters back in the day. But, I also wouldn't put it beyond GW to lower the model count per blister over the years. They made quite a few nice handgunners in those days as well. The 4th edition army book shows them in all their glory. But, they weren't Tileans and so had proper helmets or floppy heads.

Lovely project! Nice painting and some fantastic conversions! I'm especially impressed by that huge unit of Reiksguard knights.  That Nordland colour scheme works really well too. Thanks for sharing. :::cheers:::
Thanks, that means a lot coming from Mr. Reiksguard! Only 30 Reiksguard to go to bring them up to full Volganof strength.

I really like the colour scheme of the crossbow men. Really nice blend
Audacious painting - love it!
Quote
Quite charming models from what I consider the Golden Age of Empire miniatures.
So true!
Very nice unit, love the color scheme and the painting job.  :eusa_clap:
cheers guys. it is a very forgiving and simple color scheme...which is why I like it.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 28, 2017, 05:35:15 AM
why do those snake heads remind me of the evil dead?? lol
Lovely colours on those classic crossbowmen. And nice to see what I suppose is an old chaos spawn photobombing them? From one of the sillier spells of chaos models...

clearly, Shadespyre answered Zak. It's the silliness.

That spawn is not from a Golden Age, I'd put that quite a bit later for Chaos by and large. Somehow I ended up with the heads in my bitsbox and it was time to use them. Time for the great reveal.
(http://i.imgur.com/oIZeW1f.jpg)

I imagine the heads having quite a few disagreements, all THREE of them
(http://i.imgur.com/RrswALP.jpg)

In more serious Volganof business I am working my way through a unit of huntsmen, stay tuned.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 28, 2017, 01:14:32 PM
Mind sharing your recipe for the yellow?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on February 28, 2017, 01:19:37 PM
Incredible spawn! If the conversations are anything like kairos fateweaver , they shall be funny. Love the hand around the book ....then I saw his other arm. This guy has really gone down the chaos path 😸
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Zak on February 28, 2017, 03:29:27 PM
hahaha awesome !!!  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 01, 2017, 04:51:19 AM
Mind sharing your recipe for the yellow?
sure...although it is embarrassingly simple. white primer, averland sunset basecoat, heavy wash with agrax earthshade, highlight raised areas with averland sunset again. occasionally I give some areas that really stick out a second highlight with a 'yellower' yellow (I use an ancient pot of sunburst yellow) but don't think I did on the crossbowmen. note: the photos make the yellow a bit more orange than it really is.

Incredible spawn! If the conversations are anything like kairos fateweaver , they shall be funny. Love the hand around the book ....then I saw his other arm. This guy has really gone down the chaos path 😸
I think this guy is still a sorcerer judging by the base size. but yes, he may already have taken the wrong turn on the path to damnation and there isn't a lot of humanity left.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on March 01, 2017, 09:43:16 AM
That Spawn is creepy as hell! I absolutely adore it. The face on its back is damn disturbing and I love it. :biggriin:

Also the Marksmen of Miragliano are some of the finest minis, ever made for WFB.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: GamesPoet on March 01, 2017, 09:47:59 AM
Mind sharing your recipe for the yellow?
sure...although it is embarrassingly simple. white primer, averland sunset basecoat, heavy wash with agrax earthshade, highlight raised areas with averland sunset again. occasionally I give some areas that really stick out a second highlight with a 'yellower' yellow (I use an ancient pot of sunburst yellow) but don't think I did on the crossbowmen. note: the photos make the yellow a bit more orange than it really is.
Thank you!

By the way, realize these guys aren't suppose to be this, but when I first saw them they brought to mind the colors of Solland, white and yellow.  I've been wanting to do a Solland unit and perhaps I'll use this recipe to paint them, much appreciated!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Rogers Kul on March 12, 2017, 09:58:32 PM
Only about 150 minis to paint! Go on Naitsabes, go on!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Feb2017 - Crossbows)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 23, 2017, 09:29:36 PM
Only about 150 minis to paint! Go on Naitsabes, go on!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Going, going. not sprinting mind you, it's more of a walking pace.  :-P

23March2017
Alright! I finished Volgar and his Shadowmen. Supposedly they are “the most famous of forest hunters“ and “skilled beyond the ken of their countrymen”. Now, I am sure they are deadly…to rabbits and pheasants. Not convinced those S3 bows will do much to chaos warriors. They deploy as an unwieldy scouting unit of twenty. My main goal for them is that they are not a vehicle for some giant unit of baddies to get to the walls of Volganof real fast via pursuit/overrun. Yep, I am not overly ambitious. But, that doom and gloom is just on the gaming side. I quite enjoyed building and painting up the models. It is nice not to worry about ranking up for once. I tried not using a bright spot color, these being stealthy hunters and all. So, they do look earthy.
(http://i.imgur.com/iXT7MGk.jpg)

Building the skirmish tray was a bit painful. Balsawood and sheet metal do not really like to bond. A real anachronism in the Age of 3D printing (not to mention Sigmar).

Mostly these are GW archers which is a really nice kit. I mixed in some Frostgrave soldiers. They needed GW-sized arms and heads to really fit in although I snuck a couple Frostgrave heads onto the GW bodies as well. Worked out okay I think. Second from left is (slightly blurry) Volgar himself front and back. The cloak was my first try at going beyond ‘single color basecoat with wash’ on fur. Happy with how it came out.
(http://i.imgur.com/CIO4rg0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Y4zXaU4.jpg)

The book states: Loud cheers went up from the walls of Volganof when the hunting horns of the Shadowmen were sounded. Well, there must be some desperate people in Volganof. But, of course that meant the unit needed a musician. Really like the pained expression on the face. That guy must have spent too many miserable nights sleeping on the damp forest floor and now rheumatism is catching up with him.
(http://i.imgur.com/Jde4JDQ.jpg)

On the side I painted up another mounted warrior priest. He is not in the list at the moment but, that may change. I mean, if I put one warrior priest in a unit of 15 knights normally, does that mean there should be three priests in the crazy Volganof-sized Reiksguard units of 45? Anyway, here he is, Lothar the Priest. Unlike his twin brother Luthor he does not blindfold his horse or bring books to battle (or maybe the model was incomplete when I bought it…). It’s a really great sculpt. The hammer could be a bit smaller for my taste but I like the pose.
(http://i.imgur.com/yAI2GNB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/B2bzqjW.jpg)

The official Volganof counter:
828/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: Zak on March 23, 2017, 09:59:32 PM
 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: Warlord on March 24, 2017, 02:48:22 AM
Your painting is really magnificent.

The red barding in the bottom of lothar's horse - is that just red paper? It looks great!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: Illumini on March 24, 2017, 07:54:02 PM
Great stuff. Those crossbowmen really are from the golden age.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 25, 2017, 04:24:13 AM
Great stuff. Those crossbowmen really are from the golden age.
Your painting is really magnificent.

The red barding in the bottom of lothar's horse - is that just red paper? It looks great!
thanks guys. the barding extension is some little metal grid cut in half. not sure where it was from but, not model related. one of those things floating in the bit box for years waiting for just the right moment. in hindsight maybe I should have put it on the back armor.

Next up will be Reiksguard so not too exciting. In fact most of the remaining models are Reiksguard or Spearmen, will have to think about how to hold your interest as we are inching towards the finish line.  :|
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: steveb on March 25, 2017, 09:39:18 PM
nice work thanks for sharing.  steveb
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: takenoko on March 27, 2017, 08:24:49 AM
I love your Huntsmen! Really shows what a brilliant color scheme Ostland has, the black and white on those uniforms looks absolutely beautiful! Very nicely done!  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on March 27, 2017, 01:33:46 PM
Splendid work, I love Huntsmen - they're probably my favorite Empire unit. Beauties! :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23March2017 - Huntsmen & Priest)
Post by: Naitsabes on July 09, 2017, 07:51:47 PM
cheers, guys. Glad you like the huntsmen! I am afraid we are back to more standard fare now though.
----------------------------------------

9Jul2017
Well, it’s been too long. I got distracted by the good, the bad and the ugly of life. And then, when I made it back to Warhammer, dwarfs tickled my fancy.
(http://i.imgur.com/DR54F7T.jpg)
Now, they continue to do so. It’s all beards and chainmail, easy and quick to paint. I am working my way up to a 1500pts list.

But, eventually I made my way back to the Volganof project. Nothing gets me back in the groove like slogging through a batch of Reiksguard and, so I did. I got a little too ambitious with the striping on the standard but I think I stopped myself before my lack of steady hands became too obvious. This brings me up to 70. Twenty Reiksguard left to do…one day, not too soon.
(http://i.imgur.com/yxux5Mf.jpg)

I’ve also fixed up my Hurricanum which had shattered in a horrible accident (I wish it was gaming related but, just sitting in a box can be dangerous if you keep the box on a high shelf). Now it’s back to its former glory. I admit it makes me a bit giddy thinking about its aura affecting 2x45 Reiksguard.
(http://i.imgur.com/Bv6oLex.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/L42i2Aw.jpg)

My next goal will be finishing up the artillery contingent. I went to the arsenal and picked these three pieces.
(http://i.imgur.com/xpiBMaE.jpg)

I will honor the previous owner’s color choice of Altdorf on one of them, the other two will be Ostland black-white. Now, the very last cannon as prescribed in the scenario is “Ol’ Puddings” a somewhat special Great Cannon (gets to re-roll the artillery dice). I am struggling a bit with finding an interesting model. The Gamezone cannon is quite nice but, too pricey. I quite like this old Reaper cannon:
(http://www.reapermini.com/graphics/gallery/4/03147_G.jpg)

Pretty close to shelling out the twenty bucks to buy it straight from the store. But, maybe there is a cool conversion I could do instead? Anybody have some suggestions? Ol’ Puddings, the grand old cannon of Volganof, “old and almost worn smooth. Yet it still delivers shots with a deadly and well-known accuracy”. That’s all we have to work with.

The official Volganof counter:
839/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Warlord on July 09, 2017, 10:40:36 PM
I love that reaper cannon. I need to buy it at some point.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: GamesPoet on July 10, 2017, 02:31:29 AM
I like Luthor and the Huntsmen. :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::

Oooh!  That sounds like a good name for a band!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Doc J on July 10, 2017, 04:01:23 AM
Those Skull Pass Dwarfs look schweet  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Rogers Kul on July 10, 2017, 11:33:07 AM
Love this Reiksguard. How many layers did you put to achive so fine white?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Naitsabes on July 10, 2017, 11:54:42 PM
I like Luthor and the Huntsmen. :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::

Oooh!  That sounds like a good name for a band!
it does, doesn't it. Not sure what music they would play but they'd certainly wear tights.

Those Skull Pass Dwarfs look schweet  :::cheers:::
thanks. I mixed in a few of the older plastic models. They fit together with a consistent paint job. I mean, they are all short, bearded and angry, some just have fists bigger than their heads.

Love this Reiksguard. How many layers did you put to achive so fine white?

maybe 3-4 with P3 white. The banner is the worst part. But, overexposing the photo helps too  :icon_wink:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Rogers Kul on July 11, 2017, 12:17:51 AM
A lot of work with that. But the final result shows that time was undoubtedly well invested.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on July 13, 2017, 03:32:20 AM
Great looking Reiksguard Knights! That white is so crisp and pristine. :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jul2017 - Reiksguard & Hurricanum)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 21, 2017, 06:15:04 AM
20Sep2017

The Dwarfs continue to distract me.
(http://i.imgur.com/fa1lo9K.jpg)
But, I will no longer dilute down the trickle of Volganof work here, instead I’ve started a new project log, so this way if you would like to see more dwarfs:
http://eefl.freeforums.net/thread/627/dwarfs-minor-glory (http://eefl.freeforums.net/thread/627/dwarfs-minor-glory)

Okay, on to Volganof. Here are three great cannons (at the time of this writing, thirty seems to be the new productivity benchmark, yes, I do feel like a slacker).

First we have the ‘Faule Lotte’ part of the Altlangen Contingent (discussed at the beginning of this project log). It is a venerable piece, originally a donation from Altdorf proper to bolster the Altlangen defenses but in more recent years frequently sent outside the exclave. At Volganof her covering fire will likely not be enough to keep the Altlangen Contingent in the game for long.
(http://i.imgur.com/BPJ4EMQ.jpg)

And then there are ‘Hacke’ and ‘Spaten’, the two main guns overlooking the Gryphon gate. Named for their ability to bury the approaching enemy. I didn’t put the models on bases so they can be placed on the walls of Volganof one day (full disclosure: I have no immediate plans to build said walls. Pipe dreams simply put)
(http://i.imgur.com/pKpCNR8.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/daYaDqv.jpg)

In total sixteen war machines are done now. The only one missing for this project is Ol’ Puddings. Almost bought the dragonhead cannon, discussed in the last update, on ebay the other day but I couldn’t quite agree with what the seller deemed an appropriate price. No rush, plenty other models to paint, 118 to be precise. In fact, it is time for:

The official Volganof counter:
839/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Rogers Kul on September 21, 2017, 11:25:44 AM
More models to add at your project. As always, fatastic ones.
And you also fins time to paint some additional troops for other projects. Beautiful dwarves.. manufacturer?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on September 21, 2017, 12:56:44 PM
Great looking cannons. I like the vibrant colors. Cool stuff! :biggriin:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 21, 2017, 04:27:20 PM
Great looking cannons. I like the vibrant colors. Cool stuff! :biggriin:
More models to add at your project. As always, fatastic ones.
And you also fins time to paint some additional troops for other projects. Beautiful dwarves.. manufacturer?

Thanks guys! The dwarfs (except the BSB hack job) are from a company called 'Gamezone'. Surprised you don't know them, doesn't everybody in Spain know everybody?  :icon_rolleyes:

There are quite a few companies in Spain making models suitable for warhammer, something in the water?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Rogers Kul on September 21, 2017, 10:13:12 PM
Well, of course I know them, but not all their range of models! There is also Avatar's of War, Mom Miniatures, Norba...
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on September 22, 2017, 11:39:50 AM
I also know them, even have a couple of minis from their ranger. They're pretty good, if a hit or miss from time to time. :biggriin:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Doc J on October 13, 2017, 01:43:06 PM
Everything you paint looks boss, especially the dwarfs, what a striking color scheme.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Zak on October 13, 2017, 01:54:02 PM
who made the dwarfs? those are great mini's  :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 20Sep2017 - cannons)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 09, 2017, 04:24:28 AM
belated cheers for your comments. Thanks, guys.

8Dec2017
Well, it’s been too long. Not too much has happened around Volganof, it seems this project is rolling to a stop. Part of it may be that my partner in chaos has pretty much left Warhammer for pastures more historical. Working on luring him back in is hard but, I am not giving up. Anyway, that is not too motivating and so much of my hobby time has been diverted to more dwarfs. But, there has been a little bit of progress.

For one here is another little regiment of crossbowmen, proudly flying the Altdorf colors. The center back rank is filled with horrendous plastic miniatures (nope, I won’t show you a close-up, you just have to trust me). But, up front the guys look quite spiffy, GW at its finest as we’ve discussed before on this channel.
(http://i.imgur.com/DBf3SdX.jpg)

The banner was one of my first paper banners from many moons ago, boy was I feeling smart about cutting out that eagle from some city newsletter. Clearly, there is room for improvement but, it’ll stay as is for nostalgic reasons. The musician’s jaundice isn’t actually quite as bad as it looks in the photo but he should still probably see a doctor.
(http://i.imgur.com/Z1owcnD.jpg)

The other thing I’ve worked on is the not-so-mighty Sergey Pfeiffer. A bright wizard with a somewhat dubious reputation for letting his fire magic get out of control, Sergey will wait all game long for the perfect time to use his special rule. It’s a super-duper fireball he only gets to do once. Let’s hope he doesn’t wait too long and gets snatched up by a dragon or other beasty.

Here he is in between some regimental stragglers (was filling up an old regiment to 8th edition size).
(http://i.imgur.com/Bi2e9RT.jpg)

The official Volganof counter:
861/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: GamesPoet on December 10, 2017, 06:10:20 AM
Looking grand!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Illumini on December 10, 2017, 05:36:56 PM
Good work with more oldies :)

I am guessing there is a maniac with a chaos army that can take on your Volganof force somewhere in UK, you should try to reach out on facebook groups / forums.

You could try to lure your partner back with Kings of War, which has rules for both historical and fantasy, so he can switch up what he plays in the same ruleset. He can even play historical vs fantasy. It will also make the actual game waaaaay quicker than what is needed with WFB rules.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 10, 2017, 06:36:36 PM
Thanks guys.

I am guessing there is a maniac with a chaos army that can take on your Volganof force somewhere in UK, you should try to reach out on facebook groups / forums.

You could try to lure your partner back with Kings of War, which has rules for both historical and fantasy, so he can switch up what he plays in the same ruleset. He can even play historical vs fantasy. It will also make the actual game waaaaay quicker than what is needed with WFB rules.
I am in the US but, this country isn't short of maniacs of various kinds...

My buddy is doing warhammer ancients which basically is a mish-mash of older WFB editions stripped of magic. so, he hasn't strayed too far. It's about convincing him to paint fantastic creatures instead of Hungarian Hussars of the 1670s (on which of course he needs to sculpt completely different kind of tassels so they don't look like they are from the 1640s...well, I am making this up, it's not as bad yet. But, that's where it's heading).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Doc J on December 10, 2017, 10:14:25 PM
Nothing wrong with Battlemasters crossbowman, they add character to the unit and they're a conversation starter.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on December 11, 2017, 02:18:27 PM
Great looking Altdorfers. I really dig your style. And that mage is lit. ::heretic::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: SirGhandor on January 09, 2018, 03:38:27 AM
Sir, you are a MACHINE!!! I've bounced around as a guest on this forum for a couple years now before making an account, and have continually impressed me with your painting fortitude. Well done sir! Keep it up!!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: hamster on January 09, 2018, 08:27:22 PM
welcome to the cult SirGhandor
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 09, 2018, 08:59:07 PM
Sir, you are a MACHINE!!! I've bounced around as a guest on this forum for a couple years now before making an account, and have continually impressed me with your painting fortitude. Well done sir! Keep it up!!

Wow, well, I am glad this thread helped getting you out of lurker-dom!

and thanks EVERYONE for the kind words. The machine has been sputtering as of late. But, I think I might be able to finish the Empire side this year, there are ~80 spearmen and 20 Reiksguard left to do. Should be possible even when not firing on all cylinders. And, I have some ideas for Volganof buildings that I want to tackle. I guess I am saying the madness will continue (at a snail's pace).

Happy New Year everyone!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: hamster on January 09, 2018, 10:34:26 PM
if we can just get a photo, of every model completed, that will be all we need as thanks.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Midnight_Fox on February 05, 2018, 02:47:26 PM
Thanks guys.

I am guessing there is a maniac with a chaos army that can take on your Volganof force somewhere in UK, you should try to reach out on facebook groups / forums.

You could try to lure your partner back with Kings of War, which has rules for both historical and fantasy, so he can switch up what he plays in the same ruleset. He can even play historical vs fantasy. It will also make the actual game waaaaay quicker than what is needed with WFB rules.
I am in the US but, this country isn't short of maniacs of various kinds...


I'm in the US and while my Chaos isn't up to it quite yet(but surprisingly close even with the required stuff), I could drop some plans and probably have it there by 2020. ;P

A lot of what
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 07, 2018, 05:18:40 AM
I'm in the US and while my Chaos isn't up to it quite yet(but surprisingly close even with the required stuff), I could drop some plans and probably have it there by 2020. ;P

A lot of what

Chaos does get quite a few fun-crazy things. Two headed giants, wizard and coven on a floating rock, not to mention 18 skullcrusher. AL is a bit on the other side of the country, that would be a long road trip :roll:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Midnight_Fox on February 10, 2018, 01:34:26 PM
I'm in the US and while my Chaos isn't up to it quite yet(but surprisingly close even with the required stuff), I could drop some plans and probably have it there by 2020. ;P

A lot of what

Chaos does get quite a few fun-crazy things. Two headed giants, wizard and coven on a floating rock, not to mention 18 skullcrusher. AL is a bit on the other side of the country, that would be a long road trip :roll:

Whoops, need to update that.

My wife's Military, so I could be closer or farther by that time. ;P
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 8Dec2017 - wizard and crossbow)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 22, 2018, 10:57:16 PM
22Feb2018
Here we go again. Another brave Altdorf Regiment joins in. This one is a bit of a personal achievement for it is the last of my 6/7th edition main line regiments that I touched up and buffed to 8th size. Only took what, eight years?
(https://i.imgur.com/5CMlheM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t3jsyvS.jpg)

The unit contains some of my oldest conversions. Still quite fond of the captain. This is one of the few Empire bodies that looks okay with a knight kit head.
(https://i.imgur.com/27Uez78.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4UCPKyd.jpg)

There would have been grumbling about all these bloody foreigners in the city in normal times. But, with Lord Mortkin and his horde fast approaching it does not matter what corner of the Empire you are from. You will be welcomed, given a sword or axe or dagger and sent to the walls.

Speaking of Lord Mortkin, here are two of his most trusted lieutenants. Riding mighty manticores (or, as rumor has it, they share just one) they were sent against the Wolf Gate in a diversionary attack. As Lord Mortkin successfully pressed the main attack on the Gryphon Gate that diversion turned into a serious breach and chaos warband roamed the streets in the Northern quarters of Volganof.
(https://i.imgur.com/kE1Myqn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Eo2HBeP.jpg)
(so if anyone has a suggestion for an second mount I am all ears. That giant wizard cloak makes it hard)

I’ve also made a start on the next (and LAST!) close combat block. Originally I wanted to do Ostland Spearmen but, I got my hands on a box of warlord pikemen and it is just too much fun to go full peacock and color them up every which way.
(https://i.imgur.com/Bt2Gqz6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LaIDsaz.jpg)

I tested out how mixing in GW guys would work. The daintiest ones (6th edition starter box) work pretty well. I think the old multipart plastics could also be okay, as long as one is smart about picking the smaller helmeted heads. As an aside I have to say, some of these historicals have rather outrageous helmet shapes. Well, these guys will keep my spirits up as I work my way through the batch of Reiksguard that is next.

The official Volganof counter:
903/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Zak on February 22, 2018, 11:06:02 PM
WHOA !!! nice work sir  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on February 22, 2018, 11:41:26 PM
Incredible skill. Each piece is a masterwork.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Dark Lord Galax on February 23, 2018, 12:19:17 AM
Nice unit! I especially love the Captain and, moreover, the whole command group. Chapeau!  :smile2:

I made a similar choice of head to convert four of my old plastic halberdiers, and the results are good too. Empire knights heads fit particulary well on those bodies. You gave me the idea to try to make a dismounted Panther Templar unit starting from those bodies.
Now I just have to find 15 or more of them  :dry:

A regiment from Altdorf, by the way, is always worth the view.
Love the effort you put on it, changing heads to the monopose spearmen from 6th edition in order to make them all look different. Nice work!
Is the head of the front rank guy on the extreme left (first pic) from Warlord games pikemen? If so, I must say it fits pretty well on old Gw bodies.

Truly love the pikemen too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: hamster on February 23, 2018, 02:42:08 AM
and so there I was, planning a new army for pike and shotte, then I check empire to see if anything new has showed up, and of course I see this and now I have to go back to warhammer, JUST GOT AROUND TO STARTING THE FIRST MUSKETEERS BUT NOOOOOO Naitsabes THAT WOULD JUST BE TO EASY NOW WOULDN'T IT!  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 23, 2018, 04:05:18 AM
Excellent spears unit, I love how those have been done. :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap:

And the manticore and his riders, outstanding. :icon_cool: :::cheers:::

Wondering where the riders came from.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Zygmund on February 23, 2018, 08:13:47 AM
Indeed, each model is a masterwork.  :eusa_clap:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Rogers Kul on February 23, 2018, 11:51:02 AM
Magnificient!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Gankom on February 23, 2018, 02:56:29 PM
Simply amazing! Well done indeed.  :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Illumini on February 23, 2018, 03:58:31 PM
That regiment is great! The captain especially is amazing. I would never have guessed that he started as a boring monopose halberdier.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: ZeroTwentythree on February 25, 2018, 07:30:50 AM
Those pikemen are really looking good so far!

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 25, 2018, 08:32:53 AM
Cheers guys, glad you like it.

A regiment from Altdorf, by the way, is always worth the view.
Love the effort you put on it, changing heads to the monopose spearmen from 6th edition in order to make them all look different. Nice work!
Is the head of the front rank guy on the extreme left (first pic) from Warlord games pikemen? If so, I must say it fits pretty well on old Gw bodies.
Good eye, I believe it is. Some of the heads are interchangeable. Some of the more outrageous GW heads I don't think would work.

and so there I was, planning a new army for pike and shotte, then I check empire to see if anything new has showed up, and of course I see this and now I have to go back to warhammer, JUST GOT AROUND TO STARTING THE FIRST MUSKETEERS BUT NOOOOOO Naitsabes THAT WOULD JUST BE TO EASY NOW WOULDN'T IT!  :::cheers:::
well, can't you just move your historical gaming up a bit into Italian Wars and the like? Then you can use the same models for both. Synergy for the win!

Excellent spears unit, I love how those have been done. :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap:
And the manticore and his riders, outstanding. :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Wondering where the riders came from.
These are just the regular guys that came with the kit. BTW I still haven't found another mount for the wizard. But, the lord should look okay on a juggernaught.

Again, thanks everybody for taking the time to comment.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: spite on February 25, 2018, 02:00:19 PM
@Naitsabes, lovely work on the Infantry, I can't imagine doing all those different colours but the pay off seems worth it, they look fantastic!

The Blue/Red Spearmen as well, really like the contrast, the Brown of the Spear Shafts and the little detail of the Gold on the Champion/Count Shields instead of Silver like the rest of the unit and the feathers for the helmets too, seeing large ranked units like this makes me very happy. Keep up the great work. 
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 26, 2018, 01:50:40 AM
Interesting, and I might need to get me one of those manticore kits at some point.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Rowsdower on February 26, 2018, 04:52:09 AM
Great stuff :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Drakenhof on February 26, 2018, 12:44:19 PM
Wow sire loving that pikes!!! These heads swaps on spearmen looks great too :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 27, 2018, 08:08:01 AM
Thanks everyone for commenting. Happy to make you happy.

Here is just a little follow-up on the pikemen. I did two more.
(https://i.imgur.com/iND81Xa.png)

On the left is plain Warlord Games, on the right 5th edition GW plastic with a warlord arm. Works out fine I think, they look like buddies that could march together. Now, these were the best possible bits, the tamest GW head and a metal left arm (from the handgunner or x-bow upgrade pack). That arm is one of the few that doesn't have a 'heroic' hand. Regular plastic arms would be a bit more of a problem. On the 6th edition guys I've shown you previously, I ended up painting the hands with un-historic gloves. The other option might be to use a hand from the 7th edition kit but, that would be a bit wasteful and also those hands, while smaller, have little detail. Anyway, not sure this is of general interest, went pretty far down the rabbit hole.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Konrad von Richtmark on February 27, 2018, 08:56:14 AM
Question about the Warlord plastic box. Have you tried out how it'd work to have that pike arm turned back so that the pike is levelled horizontally for the attack? I would prefer such poses myself. If they hadn't had their pikes upright, I would have bought that box myself the moment it was released without hesitation.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 27, 2018, 05:43:01 PM
Question about the Warlord plastic box. Have you tried out how it'd work to have that pike arm turned back so that the pike is levelled horizontally for the attack? I would prefer such poses myself. If they hadn't had their pikes upright, I would have bought that box myself the moment it was released without hesitation.
No, haven't tried. But, it wouldn't be easy. you would need to come up with a way to get their left arm on the pike then, right? Never fought as a pikemen myself but, seems like you would need two hands on the weapon. The straight left arms that come with the kit won't work. So, then you are out in GW land where the hands are heroic. I think you might be better off buying the warlord metal pikemen with the lowered pike (still reasonable $$wise compared to GW) and maybe a set of these plastics for conversions. Note: I *think* the warlord metal landsknecht are a bit slighter than plastic version. Would fit together but it's a bigger gap to GW.

Lowered pikes are not gaming friendly either. While you could pick an angle that won't interfere (much) with attacking other infantry, there will always be dragons and whatnot that you cannot get into base contact with.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on February 28, 2018, 03:23:11 PM
Wow, these are seriously some of the most intimidating looking chaos characters, that I've ever seen. I also love the Altdorf troops, definitely looking regal and well paid. :smile2:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Konrad von Richtmark on February 28, 2018, 08:53:48 PM
I know how gaming-unfriendly lowered pikes are, but I wouldn't be using them as pikemen, but cut them down to use them as spearmen or halberdiers.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22FebDec2018 - spearmen and pikes and bad guys)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 12, 2018, 10:40:23 PM
Belated thanks, Xathrodox! Yes, they are trying to represent the capital.

---
Just a little update today. For the most part I am chipping away at the last batch of Reiksguard and the finish line isn’t close.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180511/53fd713b03e3093762fda0a533d72c89.jpg)

But, on the side I’ve been doing some more fun kaleidoscope Landsknecht. Recruitment is slow, the customary four guilders are probably not quite enough when facing a veritable Chaos invasion.
(http://i.imgur.com/nWezAdW.jpg)

A close up of the newest recruits, including the unit champion. This is a Warlord Games metal model. It is just a bit more petite than the plastic landsknechts (which in turn are petite compared to the GW models). I guess it depends on your tolerance for scale variation, I think he’d look a bit too dainty leading 7th edition GW state troops but fits in here.
(http://i.imgur.com/GY03FgL.jpg)

Also, yes, I went pink on landsknecht. If Osprey illustrations are anything to go by, that was a popular color choice.

Lastly, here is Hilda of the Hassians. Ancient chieftain and now patron saint of Volganof. Legend has it she once refused Sigmar’s advances who was smitten by the fullness of her female form. There are many variations on how embarrassing for Sigmar her refusal was (ranging from a mild verbal refusal to a kick in the noggins). But, all important scholars count this episode as one of the famous Seven Humiliations of Sigmar which helped Sigmar transform from an impetuous tribal warlord to the founder of the great Empire of Man.

Several people reported that in those dark hours when the Volganof’s wall were breached and foul beastmen burned down parts of the city, they saw an ancient warrior queen of blinding light, smiting the despoilers and guiding the people to safety.
(http://i.imgur.com/9ucoFMb.jpg)

The official Volganof counter:
913/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: hamster on May 12, 2018, 11:57:57 PM
LOVE IT
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on May 13, 2018, 01:14:54 AM
Love all those colours and how uniting they make everything. A lot of patience must go into achieving those solid beautiful colours.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Zak on May 13, 2018, 01:19:17 AM
I love them so much  :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Rowsdower on May 13, 2018, 01:28:47 AM
Great job :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Rogers Kul on May 13, 2018, 09:11:27 AM
Nice! You're keeping the pace, that's great. When do you think you'll finish these 969 models?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Zygmund on May 13, 2018, 09:20:50 AM
Nice pikemen unit forming there. Took me a while to realize there are 6th ed Empire spearmen in the back rank. Especially the one without the feather fits in nicely, even if the small champion guy is directly to the front of him.

Also waiting for the full glory of that Reiksguard knight unit!

Maybe a little more bling for Hilda, of the 'blinding light'?  :-)

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 13, 2018, 05:56:52 PM
Thanks, guys!

Nice! You're keeping the pace, that's great. When do you think you'll finish these 969 models?
Yes well, I am keeping my snail pace, that is for sure. Fifty-ish models to go so a few more months, unless I get distracted. Then of course there is also a city to build...

Nice pikemen unit forming there. Took me a while to realize there are 6th ed Empire spearmen in the back rank. Especially the one without the feather fits in nicely, even if the small champion guy is directly to the front of him.

Also waiting for the full glory of that Reiksguard knight unit!

Maybe a little more bling for Hilda, of the 'blinding light'?  :-)

-Z
Thanks Z. Second from the left is also GW so yes, it is possible to sneak them in. It's mostly about choosing the more understated GW heads of old.

This is Hilda as courted by Sigmar 2500 years ago, before turning into a minor deity....or so I claim, for I cannot pull off a 'blinding light' effect. I've seen it done on undead but, it is beyond me.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 12May2018 - Hilda and the pikemen)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 23, 2018, 01:56:28 AM
22May18

The wheels are turning, ever so slowly. Here we have a GW Fortified Manor. This was quite the learning experience. I read somewhere on the internet that wood stain is the way to go for giving the daubed walls structure. Well, maybe, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend the dark stain that I used. It ate a lot of the stippling work I had done (although not it’s not quite as flat as the photos make it out to be) and was a bit of drama. I tried to recover from the brink of disaster by making the stonework pretty light. Overall, I am okay with this piece now.
(http://i.imgur.com/pdkHWax.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Igang6A.jpg)
   
A little bit of kitbash went into this, I put the little guard house up on top and used a bit of chimney as the support. The banner is just a print-out from a gentleman named Siamtiger, who put a lot of cool banners right here on warhammer-empire back in the Golden Age.

The buildings come apart for that day when we’ll only want a chapel on the battlefield.
(http://i.imgur.com/5ZZoE7m.jpg)

Details of the upper floor with the guard house conversion and the roofs. I tried to make the roof color uneven…using my standard approach of copious Agrax Earthshade followed by even more Agrax Earthshade in some places. Not 100% happy but, it will keep the rain out.
(http://i.imgur.com/s0xkX2K.jpg)

And that’s a wrap. The last of our GW plastic buildings is finished. It’ll be mostly Hirst blocks from here on out.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on May 23, 2018, 02:03:26 AM
Fan-freakin-tastic ! You may have fought with that stain but it was entirely worth every drop. Conversions are wonderful. Very nice piece (s).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 23, 2018, 02:33:27 AM
the sheen. the terrible sheen of that stain. it still gives me nightmares.  ::heretic::

I got it under control with multiple coats of lahmian medium. originally the idea behind the stain was to save money by not effectively pouring an entire pot of Agrax Earthshade over that building. so...that backfired. :dry:

Live and learn. Thanks for the praise, Artobans Ghost.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: GamesPoet on May 23, 2018, 09:42:19 AM
looks like there's a lot going on here! :::cheers::: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: Zygmund on May 23, 2018, 11:29:05 AM
The placing of that small guardhouse is great, and pretty seamless too in the photos.

Solid work overall!

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: Rogers Kul on May 23, 2018, 01:44:26 PM
Hey Naits,

There is maybe a solution for the walls. I used to paint the very same models some years ago. Take a brighter brown and large brush and let the painting dries for a while. Then piant the walls, not as usual but tapping with vertical brush. It's difficult to explain. The goal is applying a dry brush on a plain surface. This will maintain the borders of the wall just with the original color, but almost the main surface will look better. On the other side, I think brighter colors are better for this kind of scenery projects.

I hope it helps you!

Finally, I love that banner and details!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on May 25, 2018, 01:19:33 PM
I much more preffer your color palette of the Reiksguard, than the traditional one from GW. Suits them much better.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 26, 2018, 04:14:49 AM
Rogers: what you describe sounds like 'stippling'. and that is what I did before I covered up my efforts with the stain. On the next building I will experiment with diluting the stain so more of the color gradients comes through. we shall see.

Xathrodox86: Reiksguard, did you maybe want to see more Reiksguard? here you go:

------------------------------------
25Jun2018

At long last here is the Reiksguard. I’ve sculpted the sashes, I’ve painted the same tired horses over and over, I’ve pulled every last bit from the box to give them a sliver of individuality. My inner man separated from my inner boy and here we are: I’ve completed the unit of 45.

(http://i.imgur.com/pd6sp5m.jpg)

Long term readers may remember that this is actually the SECOND Reiksguard unit for the battle of Volganof is crazy like that. So, here is what I hope is Lord Mortkins view right as things go south for him. Each unit clocks in at 1245 points…before characters.

(http://i.imgur.com/sFEvQrP.jpg)

A gathering of standard bearers. Towards the end I was running out of ideas how to paint the same banner in the same colors. Can you tell I had my fill?

(http://i.imgur.com/P5KXEWI.jpg)

Like every little gamer I dream of one day playing the grandest battles of them all at the Gates of Kislev. Now, at least I have one unit of the appropriate size.

(http://i.imgur.com/QZgZlFk.jpg)

Lastly, a big thank you to the kind folks who have sent me bits (scabbards, pennants, shields etc.) over the years to kit out the Reiksguard units. I hope you feel I’ve put your gifts to good use.

The counter is ticking down. The official Volganof counter:
932/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: StealthKnightSteg on June 26, 2018, 08:47:19 AM
 :Ohmy:

Epic proportions!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: lt dougheim on June 26, 2018, 04:33:26 PM
Incredible.  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Illumini on June 26, 2018, 06:06:23 PM
90 reiksguard knights! That is certainly epic and worthy of coming to the aid of Kislev (or Volganof)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Zak on June 26, 2018, 11:36:05 PM
90 reiksguard knights! That is certainly epic and worthy of coming to the aid of Kislev (or Volganof)


 :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek: whoa
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Victor on June 27, 2018, 10:42:57 AM
Incredible! I bow to your dedication. The unit looks great!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Rogers Kul on June 29, 2018, 11:16:36 AM
This is terrifying brutally awesome  ::heretic:: ::heretic::
How beautiful they look!! How much work on that!! Fantastic work on banners, each different but remaining the same style. Glorious.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Zygmund on June 29, 2018, 08:36:59 PM
Glorius truly is the fitting word here!  :eusa_clap:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on July 10, 2018, 12:56:48 PM
This is passion. This is dedication. This is talent.

For the Emperor! I salute You. :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jun2018 - Reiksguard)
Post by: Naitsabes on July 28, 2018, 04:33:20 AM
cheers guys, happy to see appreciation for good honest batch painting work. Maybe a bit of a lost art in this day and age?

------------------------

27Jul2018

Howdy. After pushing through that knight unit it was time for something fun. And, somehow Lord Mortkin needs to get his siege engines to Volganof. So here we go:
(http://i.imgur.com/TpMunv0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/uAenJ5U.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/NE97Vi3.jpg)
The Iron Daemon is one of those models where at some point one just has to stop and accept that there are too many details to highlight them all. I’ve certainly had my fill of rivets. The crew is quite fun and unique…but then they get glued so far into the machine, nobody will ever be able to get a good look. Overall a really cool model and I wouldn’t mind doing another one day.

As I was snapping these pictures I realized I’ve never put my steam tank up on the project log. And so, DEMOLITION DERBY:
(http://i.imgur.com/11p5rpG.jpg)
(although they really don’t fight in the same weight class, I was surprised how close they are in size)

The steam tank I painted many years ago and it shows. And it wasn’t helped by me overexposing the pictures. Still, out of a sense of completeness, here it is:
(http://i.imgur.com/k1RPStd.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/r1O4Vth.jpg)

I do have a second steam tank in the list and I only have tiny old tank as a second. So, maybe I will paint up another one to my current standards. But, not in the near future.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2018 - Tanks)
Post by: Rogers Kul on July 28, 2018, 04:21:02 PM
Wow! I love that chaos dwarf model! and very well painted too.
Keep working Naitsabes, you're close to finish the project. No pain!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2018 - Tanks)
Post by: Zak on July 28, 2018, 06:42:55 PM
wow one heck of a machine  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2018 - Tanks)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on August 03, 2018, 02:03:53 PM
Wow, these machines are glorious! So. Much. Metal! ::heretic::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2018 - Tanks)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 05, 2018, 05:25:17 AM
cheers guys!

4Sep2018
A bit of a mini-update this time. On the Volganof side I shelled out for that fancy-pants cannon we’ve discussed before. It’s available from reaper.com (Could have spent the same amount for a used one on ebay...some traders on there don’t seem to understand that not all old metal models are OOP). Anyway, here it is: Ol’Puddings, the most famous cannon in Volganof (on maneuver out and about, Ostland isn’t all forest, apparently)

(http://i.imgur.com/7uEZnxj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/DQmtbOc.jpg)

I am quite fond of the model, it’s a classic Bob Olley sculpt (of GW greenskin fame). They don’t make lovely, cartoon-y wood grain like this anymore. The details on the wheels are great too. The crew is obviously plain GW. Again I’ve opted against a base so the cannon can be put on the city walls one day.

The other addition today is a mighty Skullcrusher of Khorne. He might be one of the infamous Brass Riders Lord Mortkin is rumored to command.
(http://i.imgur.com/8mIquYe.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZeGQ1bP.jpg)
I played around a bit with the reds on the jugger, mixing different kinds of 'dull' tones. Quite like the shade on the back leg armor. As you may remember, the manticore rider I’ve shown earlier came with two riders and I struggled for a bit to find an extra mount. This one of course won’t work for the sorceror but it fits the Khorne lord okay.

The official Volganof counter:
938/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Padre on September 05, 2018, 07:14:00 AM
I love that cannon. Got to get myself one.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Warlord on September 05, 2018, 12:13:38 PM
Both really nice models.
Does it normally have a chain cloak? That is cool.
I do love that cannon though!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: orcyboy on September 05, 2018, 07:36:29 PM
I have spent the entire morning (while at work) poring through your work. Amazing stuff, very inspirational.  :::cheers:::

I'm feeling the urge to drop my greenskin projects and slip back into Empire.  Must resist.... 
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Zygmund on September 06, 2018, 12:16:25 PM
The road to Volganof is paved with great models!

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 06, 2018, 04:15:21 PM
Thanks guys, appreciate the comments!

I have spent the entire morning (while at work) poring through your work. Amazing stuff, very inspirational.  :::cheers:::

I'm feeling the urge to drop my greenskin projects and slip back into Empire.  Must resist.... 

I kind of hope you are not an air traffic controller...but yes, come to the bright (and colorful) side of the force.  :biggriin:

Both really nice models.
Does it normally have a chain cloak? That is cool.
I do love that cannon though!

the chain cloak is the stock model, he won't be sneaking up on anybody.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Irishzero on September 06, 2018, 04:23:03 PM
Very very nice! Always inspirational to say the least.

And is it Ostland, its awsome.

Like the canon, might buy one my self!

 :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Xathrodox86 on September 19, 2018, 11:07:51 AM
Some really nice conversions in here. Love the cannon and its muzzle, as well as that Jugg Lord! :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 4Sep2018 - Ol'Puddings)
Post by: Naitsabes on November 24, 2018, 11:20:53 PM
cheers guys. Thanks for the comments.

------------
24Nov2018
The Road to Volganof is full of twists and turns and so today we won’t make much headway. I am still working on the full-peacock landsknechts. Past the halfway point and they should feature front and center in the next update. Today though we are in distraction land. First up, remember Holy Hilda of the Hassians from a couple pages back? Well, she has an entourage now of burly and not so burly tribesmen. I like the ‘acceptable in the 80s’ headbands the two on the left are sporting. And for once the striped pants turned out okay. Maybe I am getting better at this? Or I got lucky.

(http://i.imgur.com/LEScKpe.jpg)
I am no expert on oldhammer but pretty sure the guy on the right is from a slightly different era..or potentially a Marauder sculpt? Certainly chunky enough. And now we let them walk off-stage (take one last look at Hilda’s fabulous braids, no wonder Sigmar was smitten).

(http://i.imgur.com/ciqyfBw.jpg)

The rest of this update is all about evil of different sizes: A Gorebeast Chariot which I slightly modified by leaving off the giant horns that normally protrude from the chassis. That left the harness-to-chassis area a bit empty so I shortened it. And that in turn made the chain reins too long which lead to much swearing and fumbling while assembling painted parts (including the classic superglued finger comedic minute). worth it?

(http://i.imgur.com/y9sRVHH.jpg)

And then I finished up a bunch of evil dwarfs. A pretty hefty unit. Not sure at this point if Lord Mortkin can afford fielding them.

(http://i.imgur.com/LJawO0f.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/sJmWwz7.jpg)

They line up in exactly one way and even that only with judicious use of unit fillers. My understanding is that Russian Alternative now sells an updated version of these guys with less oversized axes. That should help a lot with usability.
Here is the high command.
(http://i.imgur.com/nFflx0l.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Wx1FZjv.jpg)

The sorcerer is straight out of the box Russian Alternative. The BSB is a regular Russian Alternative trooper with a bunch of GW bits to make the standard. Quite happy with how these came out. And, that is all. Hope you like it.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 24Nov2018 - Hilda & the evil dwarfs)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on November 25, 2018, 12:01:57 AM
Incredible is an overused word but they are....incredible.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 24Nov2018 - Hilda & the evil dwarfs)
Post by: Rogers Kul on November 27, 2018, 12:05:56 AM
Really awesome chaos dwarves
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 24Nov2018 - Hilda & the evil dwarfs)
Post by: Zygmund on November 29, 2018, 01:14:44 PM
Those chaos dwarfs really rock! My love still goes to the human figures. Possibly nostalgia. :)

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22May2018 - Fortified Manor)
Post by: GamesPoet on November 30, 2018, 02:03:23 PM
Woah!  This is unbelieveable.  Well done is an understatement.

...

25Jun2018

At long last here is the Reiksguard. I’ve sculpted the sashes, I’ve painted the same tired horses over and over, I’ve pulled every last bit from the box to give them a sliver of individuality. My inner man separated from my inner boy and here we are: I’ve completed the unit of 45.

(http://i.imgur.com/pd6sp5m.jpg)

Long term readers may remember that this is actually the SECOND Reiksguard unit for the battle of Volganof is crazy like that. So, here is what I hope is Lord Mortkins view right as things go south for him. Each unit clocks in at 1245 points…before characters.

(http://i.imgur.com/sFEvQrP.jpg)

A gathering of standard bearers. Towards the end I was running out of ideas how to paint the same banner in the same colors. Can you tell I had my fill?

(http://i.imgur.com/P5KXEWI.jpg)

Like every little gamer I dream of one day playing the grandest battles of them all at the Gates of Kislev. Now, at least I have one unit of the appropriate size.

(http://i.imgur.com/QZgZlFk.jpg)

Lastly, a big thank you to the kind folks who have sent me bits (scabbards, pennants, shields etc.) over the years to kit out the Reiksguard units. I hope you feel I’ve put your gifts to good use.

The counter is ticking down. The official Volganof counter:
932/969
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 24Nov2018 - Hilda & the evil dwarfs)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 01, 2018, 02:23:51 AM
Incredible is an overused word but they are....incredible.
thanks! I am incredibly stubborn and will keep on painting for the foreseeable future.

Really awesome chaos dwarves

cheers. Rogers, can't comment directly over there because I don't have an account so let me state here that I really enjoy your blog. Love the behind the scenes articles and pictures about the Kislev battles as well as the glimpses into a bright future of End Times gaming. Top notch hobby stuff!

Those chaos dwarfs really rock! My love still goes to the human figures. Possibly nostalgia. :)

-Z
I know, the nostalgia is strong with Hilda and her gang. I have quite a few more of these guys incubating away in the stripping bath. Takes a while to eat away their really tough paint coating but they will eventually be featured here. Stay tuned.

Woah!  This is unbelieveable.  Well done is an understatement.
Yep, those knights likely mark the high point of my hobby grind. Can't imagine doing something like that again...although, never say never.

Here is a sneak peak at the upcoming Landsknecht unit. 16 more to go, every last one of them insists on having unique colors and they have a bit of a 'gaudiest outfit' competition so, it takes a bit longer than usual.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181201/dc2d353f081aec0fd45e0fc9f1544d29.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 24Nov2018 - Hilda & the evil dwarfs)
Post by: Zak on December 01, 2018, 08:10:48 PM
 :Ohmy:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 24Nov2018 - Hilda & the evil dwarfs)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 30, 2018, 01:39:39 AM
29Dec2018
Hello Gentlemen,
At long last I’ve pushed through the Landsknecht pikemen unit from warlords miniatures. Do you hear that? Here they come.
(  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOy48IlEbpE )

Wir zogen in das Feld,
wir zogen in das Feld, da hätt’n wir weder Säckl noch Geld.
Strampedemi!
A la mi presente al vostra signori!

Wir kamen nach Salzenmund,
Wir kamen nach Salzenmund, da hauten wir die Orks in Schund.
Strampedemi....

(http://i.imgur.com/v8On4Os.jpg)

Really a labor of love but, also quite fun to play with the colors. I put in some GW guys to fill up the unit to forty. And, of course, the standard bearer is very classic GW. I imagine when the GW boss saw this glorious model for the first time he decided Empire puffy clothing was the way to go. And so it was for ~30 years (admittedly, I wasn’t actually in the room when that decision was made).
(http://i.imgur.com/NYGENe0.jpg)

The musician is straight from the box. The champion is warlord metal. Here are some more close-ups.
(http://i.imgur.com/L0ptuiV.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vziiO7Y.jpg)
See the guy on the very left in the last picture? That is Bob, he alone saw the dragon coming.

I’ve also painted up the last special character for Volganof, the venerable Captain Schwarzhelb (or  Schwarzhalb in other sources). He makes a unit he joins unbreakable…if he lives that long. I will find a  better unit for him to join, he will not command the pitchfork brigade.
(http://i.imgur.com/WVnPtox.jpg)

Alright, what does this do to the Official Volganof Counter?

The official Volganof counter:
966/969

Hah! Almost there! Three demigryphs to go.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Dec2018 - Pikes & Captain)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on December 30, 2018, 02:12:21 AM
The detail is amazing. I could imagine how a unit of the 42nd highlanders would look with your attention to detail.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Dec2018 - Pikes & Captain)
Post by: VonOttenheim on December 30, 2018, 03:47:42 PM
I like Bob  :biggriin:   they would be lost without him…..

Stunning paintwork   :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Dec2018 - Pikes & Captain)
Post by: StealthKnightSteg on January 02, 2019, 09:54:02 AM
eagerly awaiting the last 3 of this project!  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Dec2018 - Pikes & Captain)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 04, 2019, 07:29:26 PM
The detail is amazing. I could imagine how a unit of the 42nd highlanders would look with your attention to detail.

nooo! tartans are beyond me.  :blush:

I like Bob  :biggriin:   they would be lost without him…..

Stunning paintwork   :::cheers::: :::cheers:::

Thanks. And, I've never planned it that way. Bob turned his head while the superglue was setting and I found him like this much later. Seemed like I shouldn't break his neck, so now he shall forever guard the regiment's right side.

eagerly awaiting the last 3 of this project!  :::cheers:::

They are in the works. and, this begs the question: is there a hobby life ...beyond Volganof?  :engel:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Dec2018 - Pikes & Captain)
Post by: King on January 09, 2019, 09:01:29 PM
Naitsabes youre da man!!!! Nice blog all round  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29Dec2018 - Pikes & Captain)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 17, 2019, 03:08:38 AM
20Feb2019

It is done! The last three models for Volganof.
(http://i.imgur.com/mMYZ2VL.jpg)

Stock models. I really like them out of the box. I did put together command models for that distant day when they form up in a big unit with the other three.

So, milestone reached. The Empire army for Volganof is complete. It only took five years. What is next then? Fear not the Road to Volganof does not end here, there is much more mileage to cover.

-   Currently, this army is at ‘minimum Volganof’ which means, ready to play the game tomorrow but, there are units I like to revisit and improve upon. E.g. one of the steam tanks is that tiny 4th edition one. Would want to put in a proper-sized one. There are a few other duds in the army.
-   My spies in Lord Mortkin’s camp tell me he is but ~90 miniatures away from completing his army. So, I might just pitch in a little more
-   And, of course, the big ticket item I mentioned before: the table with a city. Seems like we have a venue now so work can start in earnest.

So upward and onward, as usual, at a steady, slow crawl.

After finishing out the Volganof list, I have let myself get distracted a bit with the weird and wonderful side of the Empire in a wider sense. I am putting together a little DoW army using the Warhammer Armies Project book. Empire units can stand in for a lot in that book of course and I also have the pikemen I posted earlier. But, I’ve also painted up these little Halflings.
(http://i.imgur.com/UwRSi51.jpg)

And then a unit of Norse Marauders.
(http://i.imgur.com/ucTBDo0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/LNvyMnD.jpg)
I went with a classic Norse banner, these guys are not chaos worshippers after all (at least not openly).

So, stuff is still happening. Stay tuned. And for the last time:

The official Volganof counter:
969/969

TATAAAA!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Doc J on March 17, 2019, 04:37:18 AM
You're a thoroughbred, you paint at the highest level.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: lt dougheim on March 17, 2019, 12:03:31 PM
Those demigryphs and halflings are great. Now that you have completed your army, I would love to see a whole army photo.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on March 17, 2019, 01:36:32 PM
Those marauders are fantastic. Nice nod to the raven banner. Back in the day I wanted to do a whole maurauder army with the Norse/not chaos look. Really nice work
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 20, 2019, 03:48:56 AM
Thanks guys!

Artoban's Ghost. No time like the present. There is even a whole Norse army book in the warhammer armies project. Would be awesome!

I don't really have a good army shoot. And these guys are deep in the closet now safe from the wife's judgemental eyes. Army shots at forum picture resolution coupled with my lacklustre photography are a bit dodgy to begin with. This is as good as it will get until the big day (contains some non-Volganof models but, you won't be able to tell anyway  :engel: )

(http://i.imgur.com/RvnGBJM.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: GamesPoet on March 20, 2019, 10:49:33 AM
So that's an all Norse army?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Shadespyre on March 20, 2019, 01:26:00 PM
969/969 is an amazing achievement, but... 1000/1000 would look so neat and tidy?  :icon_wink:

I like those Marauders, I always thought one of the saddest developments of WHFB since the 1980s was to subsume all of the Norse into favourite-Chaos-God-worshipping spike-fetishists.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 20, 2019, 06:07:00 PM
So that's an all Norse army?

hell no! That is the army for Volganof, i.e. Empire. If I had a Norse army of that size I'd be the coolest guy on the planet.  :mrgreen:

Shadespyre. I agree. And there is a regrettable amount of spikes on these ~1990 guys already. Not to mention they skipped pants for the most part (I've ignored that while painting except on the standard bearer)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: GamesPoet on March 20, 2019, 07:26:48 PM
Ah!  Well I like how it has been assembled there. :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Zygmund on March 24, 2019, 07:45:08 AM
How much to do before you actually play? Did you have plans for terrain and such?

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 16Mar2019 - Demigryph & DoW)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 27, 2019, 05:14:49 AM
How much to do before you actually play? Did you have plans for terrain and such?

-Z

well. you are putting your finger in the wound. Building up the table is going to be a challenge. For the longest time we didn't know where to set up an appropriately sized table. It looks like that is resolved now. so really, no more excuses not to work on terrain. We do want to build a nice city/wall/gate section. One day. There is a bit of work left to do on the chaos army, 80-100 models I think, with some big ticket items (siege towers, sorcerors on floating rocks and the like, not quite run of the mill stuff). So, I don't think we are quite ready to settle on a specific date.

------------------------------------------------------------------
26Mar2019
A bit of a sidetrack today, more Dogs of War.

A hedge wizard. Alfons is not a bad guy per se, just a bit of a maniac. That did not go over well at the college and so he couldn’t graduate. But, his type is in high demand for any Landsknecht Kompagnie needs at the very least a bit of protection from enemy magic and nobody asks for a graduation certificate.
(http://i.imgur.com/8EtPtfK.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/YglCrO9.jpg)
I put a bit of effort into the cloak and the color gradient. I would call it ‘semi-successful’.

And then I put together a little unit of duelists. They are in full color riot gear so they fit in with the pikemen. Quite fun to paint.
(http://i.imgur.com/fJmBPYv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/f693ipt.jpg)

I think I want to add in some light cavalry with lances next. But, low priority, what I really should be doing is building up the city of Volganof…
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: Zygmund on March 27, 2019, 10:53:52 AM
Ouch, didn't mean any stress. These things mature little by little.

Nice Wizard. Love the duelists. Nice mix of colours. Do the colours reflect their home provinces, or is it just a coincidence?

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: GamesPoet on March 27, 2019, 11:59:07 AM
I like the wizard and his cloak! :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: Doc J on March 27, 2019, 08:47:44 PM
I love those duelists, how to come up with the individual color scheme without being repetitive?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: Rogers Kul on April 01, 2019, 01:04:25 PM
Congrats Naitsabes.  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
What's next? Scenery?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: Warlord on April 07, 2019, 11:04:09 PM
I love those duelists, how to come up with the individual color scheme without being repetitive?

I have painted a bunch of Marienburg troops and its easier than you think.
The difference here is Naitsabes makes it look good too!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 09, 2019, 09:40:15 PM
Thanks guys.

The duelist colors just happen. Not too much thought put into it. some colors go together easily because I use the same wash over both (e.g. yellow and red). sometimes I think of some European flag and use those colors.

..and yes, scenery is next. playing around with walls and testing out color schemes.

(https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/54432910_1297000887118547_1350102920590262272_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=1dd3d7cda1fe5f93588d5be28b0b5715&oe=5D381E9F)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 26Mar2019 - more DoW)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 21, 2019, 08:25:18 PM
21Apr2019
Did I build the city of Volganof? Well, just a tiny a bit. But, not enough to warrant a project log post. Today is all about George. Say hello!
(http://i.imgur.com/8ufym1n.jpg)

He is a Chaos Siege Giant as per the Tamurkhan rules. The Forgeworld version is gone from their website so I had to hobby it up. The breast plate is from a chaos chariot, the gut armor just cardboard/plastic card, the tentacle arm a manticore tail. Some chaos warrior shields as armor bits. The bladed arm is again plasticard. Then added in some chains to strap it all down. That’s it…the short version. This was one of these hobby projects that languished at times as I despaired and walked away, then rallied and soldiered on. Happy with the end result.

Here he is with his overlord. I put some effort into giving George a sicklish skin color.
(http://i.imgur.com/nGIqbsA.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/DGTASpt.jpg)

And a close-up. Brace yourself. This is what you will look like when you join up with Chaos. So, stay clear.
(http://i.imgur.com/1nBdZ7s.jpg)

 Admittedly, George was never a handsome fellow. But, he lived a relatively peaceful, healthy life. Visiting villages only occasionally for a drink (just a few barrels) and eating mostly cattle while really making an effort (mostly successfully) to not accidentally chomp on an herder. All that changed when a strange little man (even littler than usual) came to his cave and offered him a drink. The world went black, then came back tinted red and the pain started.
These days George spends most of his time in drug-induced stupor. His overlord only occasionally rouses him as needed. The pain is excruciating and the only way it mellows is by stomping on and hacking apart whoever is in the way.


Here George is facing a challenge.
(http://i.imgur.com/5bHqI3x.jpg)

He made it without tripping! Alright. George out.
(http://i.imgur.com/HWdYhsA.jpg)

(at this point it is unclear if Lord Mortkin is willing and able to pay the hefty fee for employing George at Volganof)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Shadespyre on April 22, 2019, 09:48:24 AM
Yikes!

My first thought was "why does he have asparagus for an arm?" but once I looked twice it all made more sense  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Zygmund on April 22, 2019, 12:28:28 PM
That's one angry giant!  :eusa_clap:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Zak on April 22, 2019, 02:42:18 PM
 :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Warlord on April 23, 2019, 06:49:26 AM
Yikes!

My first thought was "why does he have asparagus for an arm?" but once I looked twice it all made more sense  :icon_biggrin:

I thought that too, but I think its mainly the angle. The last picture shows a good curve which is missing from the other pics, which helps a lot.

He is painted very very well, and converted nicely too. The chains meeting in a ring at the back is a really nice touch.

My problem is I see the individual components too vividly that it takes away the achievement in my mind.
I feel like he needed a fancy helmet, or hat? Or did you consider that and it didn’t work? You wouldn’t get the personality of George that way I gusss.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Rowsdower on April 23, 2019, 12:45:04 PM
Great job on that stuff :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 23, 2019, 04:40:25 PM
Thanks guys! Yes, George is angry...and he doesn't even know why.

Yikes!

My first thought was "why does he have asparagus for an arm?" but once I looked twice it all made more sense  :icon_biggrin:

I thought that too, but I think its mainly the angle. The last picture shows a good curve which is missing from the other pics, which helps a lot.

He is painted very very well, and converted nicely too. The chains meeting in a ring at the back is a really nice touch.

My problem is I see the individual components too vividly that it takes away the achievement in my mind.
I feel like he needed a fancy helmet, or hat? Or did you consider that and it didn’t work? You wouldn’t get the personality of George that way I gusss.

Well, first of all, I wouldn't put an asparagus arm beyond what the Chaos gods may hand out. They do have a whimsical side :icon_wink:

Secondly, you are right. It is a bit of an unfortunate angle in most of the pictures. Blame the photographer, it is not George's fault.

I did consider a helmet which would make a lot of sense. I decided against it because I was pretty sure I couldn't pull it off, it would end up like an awkward goofy upside down bucket. Now, the Chaos Dwarfs clearly realized they needed to protect his head a bit and so slid a metal plate under his scalp, you can see it peak out in the portrait shot (if your eyes can let go of the terrible teeth).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Doc J on April 25, 2019, 01:13:28 AM
Yikes!

My first thought was "why does he have asparagus for an arm?" but once I looked twice it all made more sense  :icon_biggrin:

I was thinking "Is that celery?".
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21Apr2019 - just George)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 01, 2019, 03:44:39 AM
30Apr19
More evildoers. This time they come from the steppes.

Marauder horsemen. This is a fine kit. If only they had kept the horses in scale, Empire Pistoliers suffer from the same malady. Not sure how that passed GW QC.
(http://i.imgur.com/Xp7JU35.jpg)

I like this guy’s pose in particular. He isn’t really plundering and killing just yet but, somehow poised to do so.
(http://i.imgur.com/4FoTrMS.jpg)

And here we have the marauders’ competition in the plundering and killing department. Another hobgoblin khan.
(http://i.imgur.com/RSKHYmB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/71rzgwA.jpg)
Kitbashed together largely from Empire Militia bits (the kit that keeps on giving).

And as proof that we are chipping away at Volganof, here is a bit of scenery. Walls and fences. We need something for all these knights to stumble over.
(http://i.imgur.com/wa5SWGU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/5lNzVTK.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/kYr15V0.jpg)

This was mostly an exercise in finding a good way to do the stonework around Volganof. Quite happy with it. Here is how I did it (on the off-chance you are wondering).

1) prime black (or paint black with cheap paint after priming white if you are complicated like me)
2) bleached bone 'dry' brush (not very dry actually, get a decent amount of paint on)
3) dull flesh tone 'dry' brush (like kislev flesh. this is the secret ingredient, I think)
4) agrax wash (thin. might get away without it which would cut down drastically on the drying time needed)
5) off-white dry brush (light, easy does it. I used pallid wych flesh)

(the columns and gravestones are just grey with a wash of nuln oil.)

The next update will be full-out wholesome Empire again. Knights Panther are parading around my paint desk and they are getting impatient.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Apr2019 - walls & villains)
Post by: Zygmund on May 01, 2019, 07:14:42 AM
Great black on the Marauder horse. And that Khan - what is not to like!  :eusa_clap:

I was trying and stumbling and fixing my set of walls. Looks like you have a very nice recipy there: good looks without hassle.

Looking forward to the next batch of Empire.  :smile2:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Apr2019 - walls & villains)
Post by: Rowsdower on May 01, 2019, 02:18:12 PM
Great job. Two thumbs up
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Apr2019 - walls & villains)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 10, 2019, 02:36:08 AM
cheers, guys. Thanks for the interest.
------------------------

9Jun19
Howdy again. This time around the update is mostly about getting distracted but, at least it’s Empire. I put together a unit of Knights Panther.

(http://i.imgur.com/3tdYXt1.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/iwgjIOx.jpg)

It’s a mix of old metals and plastics riders. And then also a mix of White Knight’s metal horses and regular GW fare.

(http://i.imgur.com/7D3BpCj.jpg)

And of course I had to putz around with a paper banner.

(http://i.imgur.com/yvTb9aN.jpg)

To round out the unit, they are lead by a proper knight captain.

(http://i.imgur.com/0i9jtjt.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/uSXBkWS.jpg)

Unfortunately, this unit can’t quite fit into the Volganof lists. Clearly, we need to play some bigger games…

But, I did put together a proper Celestial wizard (to replace a sub-par model that isn’t really worth taking a picture of). Klaus Solmann is the only lord level wizard the Empire side gets to field. I suppose his primary job will be to dispel some of the nastiest chaos spells at least. He has a nifty special rule to help with that.
(http://i.imgur.com/e2w86MA.jpg)

I have begun working on another house, putting effort into the board is where it’s at to move this project forward. But, that’s tough when there are some many cool models to paint. Anyway, all fun and games, nobody dies if we don’t finish the project anytime soon.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: The Black Knight on June 10, 2019, 09:45:43 AM
Lovin the spiced up knight panters, the other type of horses really makes a difference. The captain looks like a fine dandy too! Shame we live half a world away, my night goblins would love to face this army (to get crushed most likely)!

Terrain making can be daunting sometimes. I kind of have to be in the right mindset for it and then just focus on it entirely. This also has to do with the fact that I usually have to put away the paints and models, since my working area turns into a garbage pile of balsa and pvc cut offs, with bits of flock spewed all over the place.

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: Illumini on June 10, 2019, 02:04:23 PM
Fantastic panther knights. Especially the old ones are great, and the new horses help a lot. I'm inspired to make a unit myself now
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: White Knight on June 10, 2019, 03:02:09 PM
Lovely paintjob and model choices. I also love to see some of the metal horses assembled and put to use.  :biggriin:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: Zak on June 10, 2019, 04:43:57 PM
wow very nice work sir  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: Warlord on June 11, 2019, 05:46:12 AM
Its a super effective mix of models and your paintjob is great as usual.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 12, 2019, 08:22:12 PM
Thanks guys. Warms my heart to see an old-fashioned unit of Empire knights getting love.

Lovin the spiced up knight panters, the other type of horses really makes a difference. The captain looks like a fine dandy too! Shame we live half a world away, my night goblins would love to face this army (to get crushed most likely)!

Terrain making can be daunting sometimes. I kind of have to be in the right mindset for it and then just focus on it entirely. This also has to do with the fact that I usually have to put away the paints and models, since my working area turns into a garbage pile of balsa and pvc cut offs, with bits of flock spewed all over the place.

Ah yes. The tyranny of distance. Would be fun to throw down especially on your awesome looking terrain.

Part of my problem is that I need to clean up the garbage pile of balsa and flock at the end of each session so the family can sit down for breakfast the next day. Here is the house as it currently stands.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190601/75cfec0d813aa3e954febde3b25675f0.jpg)



Lovely paintjob and model choices. I also love to see some of the metal horses assembled and put to use.  :biggriin:

Thanks. so, the horses are still available for purchase in your Miniature Imperium, right?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: White Knight on June 15, 2019, 01:54:19 PM
Yes, the horses are still available. You can also buy the Witchhunter Commander's horse on it's own for a champion or character.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ms_6VnMt2I/WlURYfrvxRI/AAAAAAAAD50/lQFbScktsy8oMNfhy7f9af_hGPUAwkn5wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/WH4c.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 9Jun2019 - knights & wizard)
Post by: Naitsabes on July 24, 2019, 02:54:02 AM
23Jul2019
Update time, and some of it is even about Volganof! But, let’s start with these guys.

(http://i.imgur.com/0UQOOUl.jpg)

Light lancers (I guess in a pinch they could serve as pistoliers in an Empire army). I’ve put them together for a Dogs of War list and painted them up to fit in with the color-crazy pikemen. It’s a simple conversion from the pistoliers, the lance arm is the greatsword banner arm with a spear tip, the right arm is from the old state troops. Quite happy with how it came together.

(http://i.imgur.com/OuGvB3j.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/78KhJqO.jpg)

In more serious business, I painted up a steam tank to replace the Halfling-sized one in the Volganof list. This is my tank. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Really not much more to say, except that building it was so much easier and more enjoyable than the metal version…but I don’t think that is news to many either.

(http://i.imgur.com/K7f3MBp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/dVnfyBO.jpg)

Lastly, but probably most importantly, I’ve started in earnest on investigating how to tackle building the walls of Volganof. I am starting out with a stand-alone piece of wall/tower that has fallen into disrepair (and there will be some peasant dwellings on it). It’s all Hirst Blocks from dental plaster. It’s going well, I like how the wall section came together. But, it’s pricey, it’s heavy, it’s time consuming. Not convinced this is the way to go for ~10 linear feet of wall + many towers. I wonder if 3d printing could come to the rescue. But, I will see this through first.

(http://i.imgur.com/qIS8lm7.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/5hmwN7Y.jpg)

And, along the same line, another house is taking shape, the Tawdry Tap Tavern.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190707/a100cb6d4b7376f8c761d05d4c320254.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190720/c2ead90b16da8cb598fca705b342fee9.jpg)

Upward and onward. To Volganof and beyond!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jul2019 - lancers, tanks and buildings)
Post by: orcyboy on July 24, 2019, 06:13:54 AM
The light lancers look excellent! I love the idea of having a unit of light cavalry other then missile/bowman.

The tavern looks great too. Cant wait to see it painted up.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jul2019 - lancers, tanks and buildings)
Post by: Zak on July 24, 2019, 05:14:12 PM
WOW  :::cheers::: :::cheers::: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jul2019 - lancers, tanks and buildings)
Post by: GamesPoet on July 24, 2019, 05:23:24 PM
Yep, have always wanted to do some light lancer types.  Yours look very good! :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap:

The buildings are coming along wonderfully too! :icon_cool: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 23Jul2019 - lancers, tanks and buildings)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 01, 2019, 08:26:14 PM
Thanks guys for commenting! Much appreciated, it helps getting through the occasional hobby doldrums.

-------------------
31Aug2019
This may lose me the audience but, I will have to speak the truth: There are no miniatures in today’s project log update. That’s right, my focus lately was on building the city of Volganof. Goal-oriented for once!
Here is the Tawdry Tap Tavern in all its grimey glory.
(http://i.imgur.com/wxClUcJ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/SYdJT21.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/FWaxQtO.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/MpQyG3G.jpg)

The Tap is the first watering hole when you enter Volganof through the Griffon Gate and as such attracts the thirsty and those travelers who may not want to venture into the more affluent city center.
I have been doing some experimenting with how to fill out the area inside the city walls. These are 8” squares and we could spread out some scatter terrain that can be moved aside for units to pass through. Not sure if we need dedicated ‘streets’ then.
(http://i.imgur.com/zlybeAs.jpg)

The bigger wall/tower piece is still work in progress but I mounted it on 8x16” so it will fit in the grid. If you have experience building a city, would be curious to hear how you handled this part.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190805/38a3c205087bf15da2478b4dd25fea40.jpg)

Completed the build, now it’s time to paint the bad boy.

Lastly, the future is now, I heard. And so I purchased a 3d printer and started with some scenery. Quite happy with the quality and this way somebody else did all the work and I pretty much just pushed a button (and waited 30hrs). What’s not to like?
(http://i.imgur.com/zm7aj5k.jpg)

Should paint up pretty nicely, but we shall see. Okay, that’s all. Besides buildings I am not doing much Empire painting, I did get sidetracked by some ogres, maybe I’ll show some of those. Can’t be all scenery, all the time here.

Cheers!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: RE.Lee on September 05, 2019, 08:14:14 PM
Love the tavern! I've got some bits from the Fortified Manor laying around, maybe this will push me to finally use them in a similar fashion.  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on September 05, 2019, 09:56:21 PM
Beautiful. I have ideas like that in my head but it doesn’t come out like that.
Makes me want a 3D just for terrain. If you don’t mind me asking, how much for that type of detail?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: GamesPoet on September 05, 2019, 10:43:06 PM
Love the effort being made on the tavern and gatehouse, awesome! :icon_biggrin: :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 06, 2019, 05:12:26 AM
Thanks guys! ..and if I can inspire you to paint up some building, even better!

Beautiful. I have ideas like that in my head but it doesn’t come out like that.
Makes me want a 3D just for terrain. If you don’t mind me asking, how much for that type of detail?

This was done on an Ender 3 Pro, using the highest quality setting but bog standard PLA filament and zero fiddling with optimizing printer settings. about $200 for the printer and the PLA is so cheap, it barely counts, maybe a couple $ for the whole house. No wonder the ocean and everything else is full of plastic. The template file for the house was free. You do need a computer to do the 'slicing' (which means loading the file into the software that came with the printer, push a button and save the resulting file on a little chip that then goes into the printer. super low key).

Really the only drawback is the extremely long print time, ~60 hours total, for all four parts: walls with floor, roof and then door+crossbeam (so the door can open and close, I guess these D&D guys need that. Did I mention the inside is all nice too?). The printer is quite noisy and it's the annoying kind of variable buzzing and whining. She-who-rules-my-world has banned it from the house. And I am too chicken to set it up in the shed under the dry dead tree in case the printer goes up in flames (it's called paranoia, you should try it). So, I've been setting it up in the backyard, weather permitting (which is quite often around these parts). All a non-issue if you have a basement, or other kind of sealed man cave (or you rule your own world).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on September 06, 2019, 11:00:17 AM
Thanks Naitsabes!
That is completely reasonable for what it produces. The timeframe is ok by me as well. I understand the ‘she-who-rules-my-world’ only to well but the place we are moving to has a basement with no laundry in it which means a glorified cat circus and hobbiest dream.
Not sure if I can write off the printer expense for the company.
Before I met her, our old kitchen was big enough for 2 4x8 tables, the third bedroom was the hobby room, and I’d fall asleep with rules and AB’s lying around.
Nowadays, a miniature’s life expectancy is that of an IG grunt on a demon world if hey venture above ground. Ah, the good ol days....
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: Zygmund on September 13, 2019, 12:56:29 PM
Great terrain pieces! I do like your own work & using Hirst Arts blocks, but 3d printing will keep you sane. Probably.  :smile2:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: TheHoundmaster on September 22, 2019, 07:36:29 PM
Wow, I'm looking back through your posts and they are really impressive! I was actually confused when I saw the Knights Panther and was like "where is that box art from?" before I realized you just had them up against the background. Top notch stuff! I love the light lancer conversion, and your steam tank is superb. Your terrain is looking excellent as well, can't wait to see how the 3D-printed one turns out!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 1Sep2019 - buildings ...and buildings)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 28, 2019, 10:02:26 PM
Thanks guys! Yes, 3d printing is the smart choice. But, I am not that smart so I am sure there will be more hand-built things popping up here eventually.

--------------------------
28Sep2019

Hot on the heels of my last update, here is yet another building. I painted up the 3d print shown earlier.

(http://i.imgur.com/3J1ByZo.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/sCaT1Tf.jpg)

Some layer lines did show up in the painting. But, not bad, I am happy with the print quality. After painting though, I am not so into the cottage style itself. A bit too cartoon-y for my taste. The oversized doors and windows remind me of ‘heroic’ style miniatures. I guess at least now I know where they go to sleep (even an giant heroic axe will fit through that door).

I printed out the next thing, a little blacksmith shop. This one is a lot more realistically proportioned. Let’s see what it looks like painted up. I think the details on each building will matter a whole lot less when it all comes together in a proper city.

(http://i.imgur.com/FEsL6bb.jpg)

On the side I did paint a few miniatures lately as well. Here are two assassins for the DoW army. They shall hide in the pikemen and then jump out and killing-blow some nasty chaos lord...at least that’s the plan.

(http://i.imgur.com/7AVyr6P.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/lICUSYc.jpg)
The close-ups are a bit unforgiving, they don’t look as chalky from a foot away. These are of course Vespero’s Vendetta models. Sometimes ebay is kind.

(http://i.imgur.com/UzyFBsu.jpg)

Some gnoblars biting off more than they can chew.

That’s all folks. More buildings to come here. Watch this space.

Cheers!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Sep2019 - assassins & another building)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on September 29, 2019, 07:07:52 PM
Fantastic! That blacksmith has sold me on the need for a printer. Can’t wait to see it painted
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Sep2019 - assassins & another building)
Post by: Zygmund on September 30, 2019, 03:35:18 PM
The cottage is really nicely painted! I'm little unsure about the quality of the sculpt/print in the stonework. I might have used some fine grain sandpaper to get a better, stonier texture.

The duellists are really cool. Are you using homebrew rules there, or ripped from Nasty skulker goblins?

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Sep2019 - assassins & another building)
Post by: The Black Knight on September 30, 2019, 10:09:31 PM
That is a fancy looking cottage. The lines do show up a bit, but only in the closeups. I'm sure it will be fine in a bigger group of buildings.

The duellists/assasins are also great! I've never seen vespero's guys painted in light pastel colours - it really suits them.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Sep2019 - assassins & another building)
Post by: Naitsabes on October 01, 2019, 04:26:02 PM
Fantastic! That blacksmith has sold me on the need for a printer. Can’t wait to see it painted

Do it! No time like the present to enter the future. To be fair, the blacksmith file I bought (as part of a giant package of castle-related files), so that is an extra expense. But, there is also a lot of free stuff floating about, like that cottage.

The cottage is really nicely painted! I'm little unsure about the quality of the sculpt/print in the stonework. I might have used some fine grain sandpaper to get a better, stonier texture.

The duellists are really cool. Are you using homebrew rules there, or ripped from Nasty skulker goblins?

-Z

Hey! It's sedimentary rock! no, actually you are right. Thing is, the painting really brought out the layer lines. What I should do is spend time sanding things down even though it looks smooth. But, there certainly are nooks and crannies that the sand paper can't reach so it is imperfect.

The Vesperos will be assassins in a Warhammer Armies Project DoW list. They are a hero choice and pretty much work like e.g. DE assassins in terms of hiding in a unit etc. (except they have human stats of course). I like the idea of them popping out and surprising an opponent, haven't tried them in a game yet.

That is a fancy looking cottage. The lines do show up a bit, but only in the closeups. I'm sure it will be fine in a bigger group of buildings.

The duellists/assasins are also great! I've never seen vespero's guys painted in light pastel colours - it really suits them.

Thanks! yes, for the buildings mass can make up for class. I've started the next print, a three story castle house. Will take a few weekends. I have noticed the layer lines getting a bit worse. I don't know if this is because day/night temperature difference outside (where the printer sits) is a bit more drastic or if I need to tighten/align things more or if different files lead to different levels of layer lines. It's a brave new world this printing stuff.

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 28Sep2019 - assassins & another building)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 18, 2019, 06:47:19 AM
17Dec2019
Howdy! Okay, we have to get the building out of the way. This time it’s the blacksmith shop (though the anvil didn't make it into the picture).

(http://i.imgur.com/VAPfqSK.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/9qE94js.jpg)

Quite happy with this little thing. Robert d'Waldo, master builder of Volganof, is making sure it is to specs. What you see in background is my rather ambitious Hirst block piece. Very far from done. 90minutes of nothing but drybrushing got me here:

(http://i.imgur.com/LL4R09m.jpg)

Right, so we are inching towards a battle field. But, in the meantime I painted some unrelated Empire miniatures.

(http://i.imgur.com/ftcNPvb.jpg)

This is my rendition of the Nuln Ironsides (armored handgunner regiments formed from retainers of the Gunner School, described in Tamurkhan). The big 7th edition guns seemed appropriate. Then I made sure everybody had a helmet, breast plate, tassets and ostentatious plumage. Gave them Nuln black uniforms but, I stayed away from the lacquered black armor they are supposed to have. There is such a thing as too much black on a model.

(http://i.imgur.com/yUlSfv6.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/c07Mupa.jpg)

On the right is their fearless leader Jubal Falk. Not my paint job. He came to me as a gift from the always generous mottdon. When I first looked at the model I wasn’t sure how to include them into my army. He seemed too awesome (and well armored) to be a simply unit champion or even engineer. But, he is quite fitting for Jubal. That meant I need to paint up some Ironsides and the rest is history.

More buildings are in the works but, it might be a while with family duties around the holidays.
Cheers!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsidesd & blacksmith)
Post by: Zygmund on December 18, 2019, 08:30:28 AM
That HirstArt wall piece and those Nuln Ironsides... Stunning pieces! Love your use of different edition State Troops. You've created a very unified look with little modifications, additions, and of course painting. :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsidesd & blacksmith)
Post by: GamesPoet on December 18, 2019, 11:38:21 AM
Excellent on all of those! :icon_biggrin: :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsidesd & blacksmith)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on December 18, 2019, 12:00:13 PM
Beautiful. Beyond regular praise. I wish I had a blacksmith shop like that. Love the open walls
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Naitsabes on December 20, 2019, 06:19:07 PM
Thanks guys! you are too kind.

The family was out for a day recently and so I had a chance to lay out the buildings that have accumulated. After some deliberations and careful study of the Volganof battlefield map in the BRB, we had decided to make the built up area 24x24". This will be tucked in a corner and then surrounded by a wall (details there TBD). All this not be confused with the courtyard. Maybe easiest if we have a look at the map, at the moment we are dealing with the very top right:

(http://i.imgur.com/R6iKnqb.jpg)

Here is where this stands, just a bit of a sample layout to see how much we fill up the space.

(https://i.imgur.com/57rzeLV.jpg)

And you can play a bit of 'Where is d'Waldo' here.

(http://i.imgur.com/jWmWpJT.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/CiyUkIz.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/T1OjncO.jpg)

so yeah. I figure we are about halfway with this part of the city. I don't think we need more buildings (in fact, quite possibly less?) but there is a bit of painting still to do. After that it's just a few walls. and gates. and a bastion. and even more high walls. piece of cake!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: GamesPoet on December 20, 2019, 06:51:08 PM
Ooh! I like that! :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Rowsdower on December 21, 2019, 03:46:29 AM
Always good to see old models. Great job on all that stuff. Don't feel bad about taking 'bad' photo's. I couldn't take a half decent photo to save my life.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Paboook on March 04, 2020, 09:39:02 PM
Incredible project! I have spend two hours going through the whole thread - just amazing  :Ohmy:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: The Black Knight on April 10, 2020, 07:56:26 AM
The town looks mighty fine. I don't think you need any more buildings, not sure if the battle will take place in the streets, but any more structures would make moving troops hard.

That being said, I think some scatter terrain would add to the look, if you have the patience to make them. A well, perhaps a sign board, satute, maybe some food stalls or a little market place would liven it all up greately.

As allways looking forward to the next installment.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Zak on April 10, 2020, 04:13:34 PM
wow
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 11, 2020, 05:51:41 PM
cheers, guys. Glad to read every single comment.

Incredible project! I have spend two hours going through the whole thread - just amazing  :Ohmy:
well, I hope you consider it time well-spent!

The town looks mighty fine. I don't think you need any more buildings, not sure if the battle will take place in the streets, but any more structures would make moving troops hard.

That being said, I think some scatter terrain would add to the look, if you have the patience to make them. A well, perhaps a sign board, satute, maybe some food stalls or a little market place would liven it all up greately.

As allways looking forward to the next installment.

yes, good call on scatter stuff. I have some barrels and carts already painted up. Food stalls are a cool idea. They just need to be moveable so they don't get in the way of gaming.

I have finished most of the painting on the big Hirst piece. Of course, now I figured that life can't be too easy and what this piece really needs is a cragly gnarly tree growing on the rubble on the very left. Will try to do something from wire, all new to me.
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/92695156_173234603724262_1500344076354977792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=b96e70&_nc_ohc=5mOJYxYJtfcAX8xZDon&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=14bb2278c4cf9222686e3168aa0a4c07&oe=5EB6186C)

But other than that, this project is a bit on the back burner. Started an undead army and am knee-deep in skeletons but, that is a story for another time (though even just replying here makes me want to come back to Volganof sooner rather than later...)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Shadespyre on April 11, 2020, 09:10:05 PM
Lovely piece, the red roof really lifts it  :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 17Dec2019 - Ironsides & blacksmith)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 22, 2020, 08:00:19 PM
22Apr2020
Hello, hello. I’ve finally finished that big Hirst Terrain piece and so it’s time to share some pictures. This building wouldn’t fit in my light box so excuse the glimpses of my living room.
(http://i.imgur.com/OnFVSw2.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jaNdo1w.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/WDh5TuB.jpg)

I know I’ve yapped about this piece before. Just to sum up: This was a test piece to see if we could (or should) build the entire walls of Volganof using Hirst Art blocks. The answer is ‘no’. Way too labor intensive and heavy. Foam will be the way to go, more about that in due time. We will be using this piece as a building inside the city, I imagine it as a crumbling part of an older fortification, now put to good use as a foundation for more mundane dwellings.

I had some fun with a little bit of staging in the style of the White Dwarfs of yore. Let’s hope the game doesn’t go so poorly that Chaos Knights roam the streets of Volganof!
(http://i.imgur.com/tolbvvk.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/lIu8J1S.jpg)

Next steps? There is one more rather tall 3d printed house, then I want to add some eye-candy scatter stuff (along the lines of the barrels/cart above) and right now the cobblestone covers 24x16”, need to up that to 24x24”.

But of course, plenty miniatures whisper in my ears to get painted. Who has time for terrain?!?

Upward and onward. Cheers.
 Sebastian
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Dec2020 - A little building)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on April 22, 2020, 09:19:55 PM
Wow!!
Is that cobblestone made or bought?
Fantastic as usual
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Dec2020 - A little building)
Post by: GamesPoet on April 22, 2020, 09:29:16 PM
Gorgeous!   :icon_biggrin: :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::

And thanks for the additonal inspiration!  I bought a 3 level tower several years back that some guy made from using Hirst molds I believe.  I dropped it a wee back when moving and the bottom came apart.  However, I have been gluing it back together a bit at a time over the last week, and can't wait to use it for fantasy and Border Reivers, too!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Dec2020 - A little building)
Post by: Zygmund on April 23, 2020, 10:14:52 AM
Congrats for another stunning terrain piece finished on the road!

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Dec2020 - A little building)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 23, 2020, 08:34:53 PM
glad to see you like it. and if I inspire people to patch up long broken stuff, go me!

Wow!!
Is that cobblestone made or bought?
Fantastic as usual

it's sculpey rolled out with a greenstuffworld roller (basically a rolling pin with an imprint). not hard to do at all.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Dec2020 - A little building)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on April 23, 2020, 09:30:23 PM
glad to see you like it. and if I inspire people to patch up long broken stuff, go me!

Wow!!
Is that cobblestone made or bought?
Fantastic as usual

it's sculpey rolled out with a greenstuffworld roller (basically a rolling pin with an imprint). not hard to do at all.

Nice! I think I may attempt that. It looks great!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Apr2020 - A little building)
Post by: errantgamer on April 25, 2020, 12:37:26 PM
My excitement for the ultimate culmination of this thread grows with every post.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Apr2020 - A little building)
Post by: lt dougheim on April 25, 2020, 11:37:38 PM
Truly incredible. :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Apr2020 - A little building)
Post by: VonOttenheim on April 26, 2020, 06:14:59 AM
What errantgamer said.   :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 22Apr2020 - A little building)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 22, 2020, 05:50:24 AM
My excitement for the ultimate culmination of this thread grows with every post.

Hold your horses, guys.  :blush:

----------------------------------------
Update time but, don’t get too excited. Volganof isn’t even an inch closer.

First up, I was intrigued by GW’s white contrast paint. Would it be possible to slap on ‘one thick coat’ and have nice white with awesome shading? Seemed too good to be true. I had to try it and turns out it was. Here are Reiklander Schuetzen.

(http://i.imgur.com/IWCpyaT.jpg)
Not too happy with the contrast white. It pools as a kind of grey that doesn’t look very cloth like. I suppose it might work better on some kind of Star Wars Stormtrooper-style models. More of a plastic or ceramic kind vibe. Anyway, the Schuetzen will still shoot just fine.

(http://i.imgur.com/4VIqO60.jpg)

A close-up with another recent addition, a nice Beast Mage I was able to get from our very own Artobans Ghost. I think I might get close to having representatives from all eight colleges on foot. Mounted not so much. I really like the chunky wizard sculpts of this generation with all their trinkets. I had eyed this model for years on ebay and never noticed his little friend there on the shoulder.

(http://i.imgur.com/hSBMRTh.jpg)

On the chaos side I did add Khorne at its Khorniest. Knights in all their baroque glory!

(http://i.imgur.com/8a1cY6P.jpg)

I wish these guys were scaled just a bit smaller, not just because then they wouldn't be such a royal pain to rank up but also because they make all my character models look like weedy teenagers.

(http://i.imgur.com/4WvjDUE.jpg)

The champion rolled well on that RoC table of yore. Bestial face!

(http://i.imgur.com/WvC9q8e.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/WgvBF21.jpg)

They shall be lead to battle by a proper BSB-hero. Let me introduce you to Marbaal. Some call him the Mighty, some slander him as the oft-defeated. But, nobody can deny he got a bad deal when Khorne handed out the steeds. His goal in life is to challenge his famous brother in mortal combat and take his hound.

(http://i.imgur.com/3lgvBCU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/fzRZ3r6.jpg)

This was a fun conversion based on an Arbaal torso/head and way old chaos knight legs. Arbaal is comically small by today's standards (except for his axe of course) so I had to put in a bit of a belly extension. Looking forward to getting this guy cannon'ed off the board turn one.

Now, I have it on good authority that Lord Mortkin has no need for their service at Volganof. These knights will need to find skulls for the skull throne elsewhere.

Upward and onward (just not always towards Volganof!)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 22, 2020, 05:56:50 AM
p.s. looks like photobucket finally got around to destroying my old old pictures in this thread (they were only fuzzy for a while, now completely gone). Wasn't there some cheeky trick to get the links to work again without hosting the pictures someplace else? My memory fails me.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on May 22, 2020, 10:58:40 AM
You have done that mage complete justice. Beautiful. And I have to admit, I never noticed his familiar as well.
He most definitely went to the right home 😺☝️
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: GamesPoet on May 22, 2020, 11:37:17 AM
Liking the looks of that Chaos Cavalry! :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Zak on May 22, 2020, 07:07:10 PM
whoa they look great  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Shadespyre on May 24, 2020, 12:03:14 AM
p.s. looks like photobucket finally got around to destroying my old old pictures in this thread (they were only fuzzy for a while, now completely gone). Wasn't there some cheeky trick to get the links to work again without hosting the pictures someplace else? My memory fails me.

PB is barely functional for me at the moment, though my old pics all still to be there posting new ones is not really happening. Just when I'd really got the hang of the new editor on it, too.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: GamesPoet on May 24, 2020, 12:50:48 AM
Hearing something like that is just another reason not to use them as a platform to host photos.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Zygmund on May 25, 2020, 06:58:29 AM
Love the progress you're making!  :-)

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: wdv331 on June 13, 2020, 11:07:31 PM
awesomeness! and i agree errantgamer looks great to me too!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: errantgamer on July 10, 2020, 12:34:24 PM
wait, you were UNHAPPY with that contrast white result? it looks great to me!  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on August 31, 2020, 02:20:11 AM
Thanks guys for the kind words!  :::cheers:::
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30Aug20
Follow up on the Khorne theme, let's dial it to eleven. A bloodthirster! He is big, he is bad and now he is finally painted!

(http://i.imgur.com/Heu6xjt.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/6HvG16x.jpg?1)

(http://i.imgur.com/a7fV3ny.jpg)

Painting this model was quite the trip. The photos are a bit washed out, the wing membranes do have quite a bit more yellow in it, happy how that panned out. And then I tried to have the overall model a darker red at the bottom up to an angrier red at the top. I was a bit too timid with the gradation, I will give myself a B- for that aspect. The previous owner had scraped off all the details from the axe blade, after some putzing around I settled for smooth blue-ish metal there, best I could do. On the whole quite happy with the model.

Now this guy is actually on the roster to do bad bad things to the defenders of Volganof (unless the cannons get him first!). The chaos side actually gets an unreasonable number of Greater Daemons but, I think I moaned about that before so I will hold it in this time. Current status is only 18 more models to completion for the chaos side though there are some big whoppers among those, e.g. Lord Mortkin himself. Also progress on the city building has been rather tardy lately. Volganof is still a bit over the horizon.

In non-Volganof but at least Empire news, I recently had the opportunity (Thanks again, Artobans Ghost) to get my grubby paws on some of my favorite Empire archers from the glory days.

(http://i.imgur.com/c0KCnNc.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/m88HQ2F.jpg)

The label on their tabs (Bergjaeger and Forstjaeger) brought back some fuzzy memories and I decided to investigate. Turns out way back when in 3rd edition Warhammer Armies, the Empire could field two kinds of archers.

(http://i.imgur.com/Wns9Z8d.jpg)

Really the only difference is the armor, kind of overdone in the models, that armor does not look so light, Forstjaeger here:
(http://i.imgur.com/vHsQWAc.jpg)

And Bergjaeger here:

(http://i.imgur.com/8IKyzTW.jpg)

(though, just to confuse you, the guy on the left is modern plastic)

Why armor would be appropriate in the forest but not in the mountains, only GW knows. The modern plastic archer fit in quite nicely with the Bergjaeger, if I can get a hold of a few more guys with armor, I could nicely split this into two units and fill up the Bergjaeger with plastics.

Anyway, probably way more than you wanted to know about the Empire Jaeger Corps. Currently working my way through some shiny Knights of the Blazing Sun, so that likely will be next.

Upward and onward
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: GamesPoet on August 31, 2020, 02:43:07 AM
I like the demon, and I really like the archers! :icon_biggrin: :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: Midaski on August 31, 2020, 10:21:41 AM
Interesting history.

Odd that the Scout is a point more expensive than the forester with his light armour.

I guess Scouts had special rules to earn the difference?

I have several of those old metal archers - lovely minis.

I know the modern plastics have great versatility and fantastic detail, but there is just something about all those Empire metal infantry figures of the 90's.
The Halberdiers and Characters mainly, but the Spearmen and Swordsmen weren't bad either.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on August 31, 2020, 10:39:23 AM
Fantastic as usual. I had no idea those archers could look so good. They certainly made it to the right home 😺
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: GamesPoet on August 31, 2020, 12:16:37 PM
I have two of those metal archers, both currently on my painting desk, the one in the middle of the first photo not firing, and the one on the right in the second photo.  They are being painted in white and olive green to use as Westerland archers, or even Stirland River Patrol archers.  Don't believe I have any of the other metal archers, yet keeping an eye out for them.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 01, 2020, 01:35:15 AM
cheers, GP. Now, don't get between me and a couple more metal archers  :icon_wink: Pretty sure Artobans Ghost is tapped out.

Interesting history.

Odd that the Scout is a point more expensive than the forester with his light armour.

I guess Scouts had special rules to earn the difference?

I have several of those old metal archers - lovely minis.

I know the modern plastics have great versatility and fantastic detail, but there is just something about all those Empire metal infantry figures of the 90's.
The Halberdiers and Characters mainly, but the Spearmen and Swordsmen weren't bad either.

Scouts are not elaborated on in Warhammer Armies. Maybe there is something in the main rulebook, didn't dig that far. Both units can be upgraded to skirmishers for the princely sum of 0pts.

As far as charming goes, you are right. maybe it's the shapely thighs some are flashing (e.g. the armored guy on the right)?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: ZeroTwentythree on September 01, 2020, 02:06:42 AM
Scouts used skirmish formation but could fight against formed units. Normally skirmishers can't charge formed units and must flee if charged.

Foresters move through woods without penalty, and if in woods can spend a turn setting traps for enemy units that subsequently move i to those woods.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 01, 2020, 03:00:41 AM
Ha! The two archer units have totally different rules and I was just an ignoramus. Thanks ZeroTwentythree for setting the record straight.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 21May2020 - Handgunner & Big bad knights)
Post by: Zygmund on September 02, 2020, 05:42:54 PM
Nice painting!

Really the only difference is the armor, kind of overdone in the models, that armor does not look so light

Back in the day there was light armour and heavy armour. Essentially, light armour was half armour, and heavy armour was 3/4 to full armour.

So in the rules sense the light armour is correct. Maybe thinking of 15th/16th century foresters it looks rather heavy. A mail shirt or gambeson might have been more fitting. But those were for Bretonnia. Breastplates were the hallmark of Empire!  :closed-eyes:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: errantgamer on September 06, 2020, 04:23:15 PM
Fantastic looking archers.

This must be one of the oldest running projects in modelling history at this point :D
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 06, 2020, 09:07:33 PM
cheers, Zygmund.

yes, something that is not clanky metal seems a bit more appropriate for stealthy foresters but, I suppose not passing for dirty brets is a good enough reason.  :::cheers:::


Fantastic looking archers.

This must be one of the oldest running projects in modelling history at this point :D

God no! There are much more venerable threads here and elsewhere. I'd say this project, much like me, is still solidly middle-aged  :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 30Aug2020 - Archer & Bloodthirster)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 26, 2021, 07:24:54 AM
25Jan2021
Why would it take so long to update? Not sure, I think taking pictures just isn’t my favorite thing to do (though posting pictures and chatting a bit with you certainly is). Well, I have been painting over the last couple month and some of it was Empire, so here we go, the promised Blazing Sun Knights with a 'by the book' paintjob.

A unit mostly with the old command here
(http://i.imgur.com/mkntike.jpg)

And then not quite as old here
(https://i.imgur.com/IdWi22L.jpg)

The latter are from a Blazing Sun upgrade pack that come out much later than the plastic knights. I always liked the bits but it seemed a bit pricey for what it was and then it was gone. Then for years one could spend a fortune on ebay if any came up at all and so I bid my time (…or rather just gave up). Until, one random day, a fine gentlemen going by gorfung on EEFL and elsewhere just stumbled upon some in a lonely hobby store somewhere in the frozen north that had a treasure trove of old GW. And, instead of making that fortune on ebay he passed it on to fellow hobbyists at cost. This of course meant painting up all the old metal Blazing sun I had in my stash and filling up the units with plastic knights to make use of the two commands.

So, Grandmaster facing off. very old on the left and less old but still old by now (and technically a unit champion) on the right.

(https://i.imgur.com/zNp8Yjl.jpg)

And standard bearers

(https://i.imgur.com/5FEYZ6F.jpg)

And musicians
(https://i.imgur.com/SwE3qW5.jpg)
(okay fine, there was no musician for the original set, that one is a hack job)

Lastly troopers, some sit in the saddle a bit better than others. I did go full on green stuff/mold to make enough of the shields. Helps give the unit a bit more character.
(http://i.imgur.com/kjiXaoc.jpg)

This completes my tetrad of the 4th edition Knightly Orders. One hobby life goal off the list.

Upward and onward!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Zygmund on January 26, 2021, 09:43:18 AM
Glorious unit! COngratulations for finishing all four key knightly orders!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

Looks like the banners represent two different methods for banner making. Is the right one paper? But how is the left one made?

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: GamesPoet on January 26, 2021, 12:24:37 PM
Congrats, and they look glorious!  Well done. :icon_biggrin: :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on January 26, 2021, 04:15:24 PM
Incredible as per your standards
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on January 26, 2021, 05:14:14 PM
Thanks guys, you are too kind. It's all a labor of love.  :::cheers:::


Looks like the banners represent two different methods for banner making. Is the right one paper? But how is the left one made?

-Z

yes, paper. a print-out of the classic banner found somewhere on the internet. I sometimes paint over parts of the paper banners to give it more depth but I don't think I did for this one.

The banner on the left is solid metal and how it came out of the blister. so, that's as easy as it gets (just make sure the whole thing is balanced and stick some scrap metal into the base for good measure)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Michael W on January 26, 2021, 05:38:44 PM
Very very pretty minis.  Always inspiring to see your work!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: TaraGreen on January 27, 2021, 07:15:59 PM
Please keep posting pics! They are awesome!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Sharkbelly on January 28, 2021, 05:17:26 AM
Well done! Some of my all-time favorite models.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Zak on February 03, 2021, 04:40:12 PM
wow nice work  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: wdv331 on February 04, 2021, 04:04:32 AM
Awesome stuff throughout!!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 25Jan2021 - Blazing Sun Knights)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 07, 2021, 05:37:13 AM
Not going to lie, I appreciate your appreciation, gentlemen.
--------------------------------------

6Feb2021

Hot on the heels of the last update (by my standards only), here we go again. This is a bit of a catch up of things I painted but hadn’t photographed yet.
I did paint up some more Nuln troops. A small unit of handgunners and a trusty old Engineer. Nothing to special. Will they feature at Volganof? Who knows, they might, depending on how I want to man those walls.

(http://i.imgur.com/enHqikd.jpg)

I quite like the Engineer model. He looks so academic from the front but is actually carrying a big bad gun on his back. Tried to make the barrels have a blueish tint, which sort of worked, but didn’t photograph too well.

(http://i.imgur.com/IHng3iA.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Rgncgoy.jpg)

On the chaos side, Mortkin continues to hesitatingly muster forces. I keep trying to slip guys in but, he is rather picky. Turned down Mister ThreePotatoeHeads.

(http://i.imgur.com/yPJQ7dP.jpg)

AND this friendly Herald of Tzeentch.

(http://i.imgur.com/cvlfhKO.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/OWcFWi2.jpg)

At this rate, it is anybody’s guess when the Chaos side is ready for the assault. But, they will come. I just know it.

A while back I finished the last major building for Volganof (as long as one counts the walls and fortifications on a separate tab).  A bit of a beast as the print didn't come off the machine cleanly. I dremel-ed around to make the stonework passable. For the second floor windows I glued in a simple mesh, not sure where that is from but I think it looks alright for 'fantasy medieval'. The overall design is a bit odd. What kind of old-growth trees did they have to chop down for those timbers? Better not tell the Wood Elves!

Anyway, it's massive, it'll look good in the back row of houses at the table's edge. D'Waldo, the master architect of Volganof, approved of the dimensions. Stairs and railings are to code.

(http://i.imgur.com/pnQDHl2.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bP7iFnj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4msDJ8w.jpg)

I did mess around with camera settings in natural light. Photography is still hit-and-miss for me. mostly miss.

So, now there is only walls and gates and gallows and woods and hills to do. Table is practically done… oh, and I need to to the rest of the cobblestones for the city part of the board. About half way through that process. A bit tedious.

Noticed I am going on seven years with this project log but it should not take another seven to see the Volganof part through. Upward and onward!

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 07, 2021, 01:16:24 PM
Excellent, across the board, no pun intended. :icon_wink: :icon_biggrin: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Sharkbelly on February 07, 2021, 01:50:15 PM
Great looking stuff!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Artobans Ghost on February 07, 2021, 03:46:35 PM
Insane is what it is. Insane
 :::cheers::: 😺
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Zygmund on February 07, 2021, 06:50:42 PM
GREAT!

(But the drum is upside down!)

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 07, 2021, 10:44:10 PM
GREAT!

(But the drum is upside down!)

-Z

I know. A regrettable choice the previous owner made. Unfortunately he sealed that choice with copious amounts of plastic glue. Not salvageable without risking life and limb (both of the model and myself). So, I decided to roll with it. I got it by everyone but you. Let's keep it between the two of us, Hawk-eye Z


All of you, thanks for continuing to pop your head in on this little project. More to come. One day.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: GamesPoet on February 07, 2021, 11:21:19 PM
I can't read yellow writing, so fortunate.  Need to get my eyes checked too, my current pair of glasses ain't doing the trick anymore.  By the time that is completed, we'll have all moved on to more of this great thread, and I won't know the difference. :icon_mrgreen: :icon_lol:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Rowsdower on February 09, 2021, 12:42:17 PM
Great job.
I like the thibg with three heads. Very Python-esque
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Michael Stockin on February 09, 2021, 01:33:37 PM
.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Zak on February 09, 2021, 04:04:22 PM
 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 18, 2021, 09:43:18 PM
Is that STL freely available?

sorry Michael, I missed that comment. I bought the STL on cgtrader as part of a bigger castle set. Can't find the link anymore, it was years ago. and as I mentioned the building isn't that great to begin with. There is plenty of free stuff on thingieverse now. I am not young enough to think patreon is okay, but that is where you could find more buildings than you could possibly ever print (and paint!).
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: errantgamer on February 22, 2021, 11:07:58 PM
Good god, this project progresses apace--

I think it might outlive most of us.  :icon_cool:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 6Feb2021 - Handgunners, building and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 10, 2022, 10:47:06 PM
2Mar2022
Wow. I let a year tick by without updates. Lame!
I did paint quite a bit and even quite a bit of Empire. But first the most important update:

(http://i.imgur.com/XcRszAZ.jpg)

I know, exciting, right? We bought a house and now use your imagination. Trashy tent gone, assorted crap gone and there it is, a beautiful foundation. Shed of dreams built and bam, the place to battle for the fate of Volganof. Now the wife has decreed that other things have priority, double-pane windows, exterior paint and other nonsense. But, I still like to think of it as the slab of opportunity. Time will tell.

In terms of Empire painting I’ve kept plucking away at a Nuln/Gunnery School army. Let’s start out with a crappy picture of two more engineers (promoted from classic gun crews).
(http://i.imgur.com/SjYTwIn.jpg)

And some Outriders.
(http://i.imgur.com/XjDLzir.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/m8dRkBS.jpg)

I tried sticking with mostly black but couldn’t help but add in a bit of color on the coats. Next up Pistoliers, led by an Outrider of course.
(http://i.imgur.com/39WfgF8.jpg)

I haven’t finalized an army list but I figure there should be some guard to defend the artillery pieces. Here are the Lions of Nuln lead by a plucky captain (I believe that is an Avatars of War model).
(http://i.imgur.com/vUPGEJM.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/x6MyGbs.jpg)

And of course front and center in a Gunner School army should be the artillery train.
(http://i.imgur.com/LwrJWPR.jpg)

Can’t let those fobs at the Altdorf college claim only they do cutting edge technology. I have quite a few more pieces but ran out of time to snap pictures.

But, here are some bonus models:
(http://i.imgur.com/pGOANRM.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/wdR9xmF.jpg)

Valten MkII. That model was a bit of a struggle and in the end I just gave up on the cape. It’s still a bit too ‘Red Period’ for my taste but, I couldn’t dial it back more without major rework. Maybe I will revisit that guy in a couple years. The wizard is Frostgrave plastic. Quite a nice kit, looking forward to putting together a few more.

Alright. Upward and onward, will make every effort to not let be another year until the next update.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 10Mar2022 - Outrider, Valten and more)
Post by: GamesPoet on March 10, 2022, 10:58:42 PM
Looks and sounds fantastic!

Oh, and the cloak, call it flame resistant of course! :icon_wink: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 10Mar2022 - Outrider, Valten and more)
Post by: Perambulator on March 10, 2022, 11:15:14 PM
 :Ohmy: Wow! That's some really tidy work! Very nice!  :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 10Mar2022 - Outrider, Valten and more)
Post by: Rowsdower on March 11, 2022, 02:07:22 AM
Great job. Yellow and white are two of the hardest colours to use :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 10Mar2022 - Outrider, Valten and more)
Post by: Zygmund on February 14, 2023, 05:42:15 PM
How did I miss this? Again, great job!

Hope to see another update soon (it's been almost a year already).

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 10Mar2022 - Outrider, Valten and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on February 20, 2023, 05:41:20 PM
How did I miss this? Again, great job!

Hope to see another update soon (it's been almost a year already).

-Z

Thanks!

and yikes, it's almost a year between updates ...again. I will get on it  :icon_redface:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 10Mar2022 - Outrider, Valten and more)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 18, 2023, 08:39:53 PM
18Mar2023
Quote
2Mar2022
Alright. Upward and onward, will make every effort to not let be another year until the next update.


Well, every effort wasn’t enough. It has been a year since the last update. It’s not that I don’t paint, it just evidently is too much of a hurdle to drag miniatures from the deepest storage, fumble around on a camera with mixed results and then fumble around on a computer some more. But, I have a plan. More on that in a bit.

First, to get back in your good graces, here is a unit of classic pistoliers.

(http://i.imgur.com/h3FnCBd.jpg)

Two of their numbers are Avatars of War models. Full metal horses with terrible gaps that served as a reminder for me that not all was good in the old days. But, I really like them now.

(http://i.imgur.com/lZ51Oah.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/EpN0292.jpg)

On to the meat of this update, how do make myself update this project log more often. Here is my cunning plan: Locally, we have recently started an escalation type league where we paint some miniatures each month and then meet up and play monthly with our growing forces. As a twist, we start out with 1500pts of a main army and paint up/grow an allied contingent. In my case the main army is Dwarfs and the allies….the Empire. So, that means I will paint ~200pts of Empire each month and, they won’t be sequestered away in deep storage because I need them for gaming each month. How hard can it then be to snap a few pictures every month? Maybe even snap a few more from the game? Let’s see how that plan survives contact with reality.

Now, month 1 was February but it was a bit different to give everyone a chance to get organized. No allies, just the main army and a baggage cart. Here is what I brought:
(http://i.imgur.com/J38q6y1.jpg)

(minus the photo-bombing Wight King of course. Also, I left off the second cart, that pony had an easy day)
Sadly, no pictures from the game (it even was such a glorious victory for the doughty dwarfs). This was before I hatched my plan. But, here are more baggage trains.

(http://i.imgur.com/2MMHfh4.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/L8YIa5B.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/nPI5yu4.jpg)

So, if all goes to plan, there will be an update at the end of the month…fingers crossed.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: GamesPoet on March 18, 2023, 09:32:21 PM
Great painting and figures, congrats! :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Zygmund on March 19, 2023, 09:09:17 AM
Love 'em!

 :happy:

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: S.O.F on March 25, 2023, 12:21:53 AM
Love the Megacerops head for the Ogre baggage, I always think GW went wrong in making way goofy shit for Ogre Kingdom animals rather than grab cool real world mammal mega fauna bits to use instead.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Rowsdower on March 26, 2023, 06:31:12 AM
Great job :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Naitsabes on March 27, 2023, 09:15:15 PM
Thanks guys, appreciate the comments.

Love the Megacerops head for the Ogre baggage, I always think GW went wrong in making way goofy shit for Ogre Kingdom animals rather than grab cool real world mammal mega fauna bits to use instead.

Ha! and I thought this was some rhino with a fantasy Y-horn. But no, nature is so full of wonder.

edit: This model is from Ral Partha legacy.

I completely agree on the dislike for the goofy big ogre models. Found alternatives, e.g. this stonehorn is a scaled down 3d-print mammoth.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210504/0cbea10acfbbc2ffeb3f3394e4f0930b.jpg)

anyway, game day coming up here, there will be halberdiers. I got this.  :dry:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230205/aff59df567003434d8fafba0396fd875.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Rowsdower on March 28, 2023, 02:01:31 PM
Never underestimate the value of a block of halberdiers
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Gankom on April 01, 2023, 04:18:23 AM
Always love your updates, keep them coming!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 03, 2023, 03:58:55 AM
Always love your updates, keep them coming!

for once, I am.

----------------

2Apr2023

Follow-through?!? You better believe it. Let’s go.

Our Tale of X Painters is in month 2. We painted up 300 pts of Allies, in my case Empire.
I burned most of my points on an awesome Lord. It’s all about fashion statements. By hiding his dagger, the mad count became a slightly less mad count: Graf Rudiger von Hintenrum

(http://i.imgur.com/tz9HLUD.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/QBwXY0x.jpg)

At the moment he is leading 14 brave halberdiers. All models from the good old days.
(http://i.imgur.com/7qaibDs.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/TR35tXf.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/JuFQ2Ps.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/EQSz4qJ.jpg)

Let the first guy on the left in the first picture be number 1, all the way to the last guy on the right in the third picture be number 14. Here is a chance to show that you’ve spent way too much time pouring over miniature catalogs as a kid (especially if you can answer question three)

1)   Which of these guys are all plastic?
2)   Which of the metal guys are out-of-the-blister halberdiers?
3)   What were the non-halberdiers metals when they came out of the blister?

Let’s give this a week or so. Let's see who knows their stuff!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: GamesPoet on April 03, 2023, 10:25:03 AM
1.  My guess for all plastic ...

Top photo ... middle and 2nd from right.

Middle photo ... 2nd from left, center, and far right.

Bottom photo ... 1st and 2nd on left, far right.

2.  My guess for all metal ...

Top ... two on left, and far right.

Middle ... far left, second from right.

Bottom ... second from left.

3.  What were the non-halberdier metals out of the blister ... artillerymen?

Extra credit ... What were the non-metals out of the box ... spearmen, although I also see a handgunner, artillery, command and militia, along with a few 7th edition pistolier and multi infantry box bits.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 18Mar2023 - Pistoliers & Baggage train)
Post by: Jmash on April 03, 2023, 10:32:06 AM
1)   Which of these guys are all plastic?
2)   Which of the metal guys are out-of-the-blister halberdiers?
3)   What were the non-halberdiers metals when they came out of the blister?
Let’s give this a week or so. Let's see who knows their stuff!

1) All plastic - 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14.
A mix of monopose spearmen & handgunners with headswaps, some Empire command sprue bits and 14 is cobbled from cannon crew bits with a militia head and new soldier arms.

2) Metal halberdiersfrom blisters - 1, 2, 5

3) Metal non-halberdiers - 3 (he is an out the blister standard bearer but he's not a halberdier, so he could go in category 2...), 6 & 9 are metal artillery crew, 13 is a metal crossbowman.

Hoping for an A* please sir  :engel:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: commandant on April 03, 2023, 11:02:19 AM
8 is a handgunner isn't he from the 6th era?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Sharkbelly on April 03, 2023, 03:45:13 PM
I believe you are correct! And did 6 start out life as a cannon crewman?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Fidelis von Sigmaringen on April 04, 2023, 09:12:41 AM
1)Which of these guys are all plastic?

4/7/8/10/11/12/14. All 6th edition, but

- 7 & 12 have a 7th edition head
- 8 was originally a handgunner
- 10 was originally a standard bearer


2) Which of the metal guys are out-of-the-blister halberdiers?
1/2/3/5

3) What were the non-halberdiers metals when they came out of the blister?
6 & 9 were originally classic cannon crew (9 with classic standard bearer head); 13 was originally a classic crossbowman
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 19, 2023, 08:45:55 PM
Wow, look at all these knowledgeable people! Impressive.

jmash takes the cake! maybe no * on the A because of the slightly imprecise 'artillery crew' label.

1) all plastics
4, 7 ,8, 10, 11, 12, 14

2) original metal halberdiers
1, 2, 6
(Fidelis, if, under Belgian law, command models count as halberdiers, consider yourself on jmash level after all)

3) origin of metals
3 command (duh)
6 cannon crew
9 mortar crew
13 x-bow

thanks for playing.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 19, 2023, 09:14:55 PM
Trying to follow through on including some game pictures.


My allied commander Graf von Hintenrum lived up to his name in the form of a glorious rear charge into some minotaurs in his first game:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230419/8e0f3ebcf133ce270c103da98306943e.jpg)

The first proper alliance game was a bit of an uphill struggle, I fought a mighty Chaos Legion and promptly on turn 1 the gates of hell opened in the magic phase and spit out a bonus unit of 10 bloodletters. In the end I clawed back my way to a draw. Best scene of the match:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230419/6b3d351517548adbe9f133281644b0ad.jpg)

Look at the Auld Alliance seeing off a jugger lord of the ancient times (couldn't catch him after he broke but the organ gun sorted things out).

Next game for our little Tale of X Gamers is next week, furiously painting at the moment, halberdiers and knights.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Rowsdower on April 20, 2023, 02:02:45 PM
Where is that proxy juggernaut sourced from? It looks very familiar
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: GamesPoet on April 20, 2023, 03:13:09 PM
Wonderful figures in those pictures, congrats! :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Naitsabes on April 20, 2023, 03:16:46 PM
Where is that proxy juggernaut sourced from? It looks very familiar

That is the original GW jugger. Maybe you have vague memories of damage it caused your brave lads back in the late 80s?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Rowsdower on April 21, 2023, 03:24:25 PM
Where is that proxy juggernaut sourced from? It looks very familiar

That is the original GW jugger. Maybe you have vague memories of damage it caused your brave lads back in the late 80s?
My mistake. I mistook it for a Transformer some kids i used to babysit had
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 2Apr2023 - Halberdiers & General)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 15, 2023, 02:37:13 AM
14May2023

Our Tale of X Gamers is chugging along… in fact, much more smoothly than this project log. Month 3 saw us clash with 1500pts of main army and 500pts of allies. We played the ‘Surprise Encounter’ scenario from the very back of the BRB. It’s a good one to make for a chaotic battle, I highly recommend it. My Dwarf&Empire faced off against Ogres&Empire so there was a bit of a civil war component. My brave lads carried the day, Graf Rudiger von Hintenrum pulled off a nice flank charge. But, I failed on the picture front. It was bound to happen.

However, here are the month 3 reinforcements:

More brave Halberdiers from the Golden Age, including a unit champion which I couldn’t squeeze in last month.
(http://i.imgur.com/6OkVmAk.jpg)

And a proper Knightly escort for Graf Rudiger.

(http://i.imgur.com/8IuSxVs.jpg)

I put a little work into making them fit in with Rudiger, i.e. puffy sleeve arms. Mostly from the Demigryph kit and also some chopped up old state troop bits (and if you look real hard and are versed in the finer points of the Empire miniature line, Rutgar’s lance arm). Then most of the work ended up hidden behind the shields. But, I know it’s there!

(http://i.imgur.com/bs1TAxh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/UPzzbxP.jpg)

So here we are, 500pts group shot.
(http://i.imgur.com/EeAW6KM.jpg)

With less than two weeks to go until month 4, I haven’t started with the next batch of 200pts. Originally, I wanted to tackle a steam tank. That seems a tall order now, plan B is a wizard Lord. Easiest way to burn 200pts. We shall see.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14May2023 - Knights & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: Zygmund on May 15, 2023, 08:36:31 AM
These are lovely figurines!

Especially like the painting of the horses' barding.

-Z
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 14May2023 - Knights & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on May 30, 2023, 01:12:18 AM
These are lovely figurines!

Especially like the painting of the horses' barding.

-Z

Thanks Z.  :smile2:

------------------------------------------------------------------
29May2023

Here we go again. Month 4 of the Tale saw me clash again with the Ogre&Empire, this time our respective allies were at 700pts. Yet again I failed to take game pictures. But yet again, here is my new 200pts of allies.

(http://i.imgur.com/v67C8Wv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jOLOxnz.jpg)
A nice chunky Shadow Wizard Lord on trusty steed. Slowly completing my collection of colleges. Three more mounted wizards to go.


(http://i.imgur.com/cpKwIyo.jpg)
And then of course I had to add a few halberdiers to the main unit. This is the Empire after all.

So, obviously I didn’t finish the Steam Tank, and obviously that will have to be my goal for month 5. I can pull the wizard joker only once. No more excuses!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29May2023 - A wizard & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: TaraGreen on May 31, 2023, 07:17:46 AM
No. 3 in the row looks a bit bored.  :-D

Great paint job!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29May2023 - A wizard & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on June 01, 2023, 08:37:14 PM
No. 3 in the row looks a bit bored.  :-D

Great paint job!

Thanks!

and life in the back rank probably is a bit boring   :-P

Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29May2023 - A wizard & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: wdv331 on June 17, 2023, 01:50:34 AM
awesome! I love the new Nordland allies for your dwarfs! I'd also love to see your Dwarf/Empire army in action! Hopefully maybe even some empire civil war stuff!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29May2023 - A wizard & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: b0007452 on June 21, 2023, 08:39:31 PM
Very nice painting pal, always nice to find a new PLog to follow - Keep it up  :biggriin:
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29May2023 - A wizard & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: StealthKnightSteg on July 10, 2023, 07:47:41 AM
Looking great! Good to see you still working on all this.

How is the shed coming along? :)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 29May2023 - A wizard & a few more Halberdiers)
Post by: Naitsabes on July 28, 2023, 03:08:59 AM
Very nice painting pal, always nice to find a new PLog to follow - Keep it up  :biggriin:

Welcome aboard. Mind you, this is not the fastest train...

Looking great! Good to see you still working on all this.

How is the shed coming along? :)

Thanks. Yes, slow & steady. The shed is still an open wound. Not going to happen in the near future at the moment. Too many more pressing matters around the house to pour money into.

---------------------------------------------
27Jul23
Hello, hello! Summer is upon us. And has been for a while which somewhat derailed warhammering. I missed the last Tale game day at the end of June by vacationing in the Old Country. But, I did finish the monthly hobby before hopping on that jet plane.
Behold, a mighty Steam Tank:

(http://i.imgur.com/WtZiTPH.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/d81ZJ6Y.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iD11gPw.jpg)

It’s in the colors of Nuln to fit in with my earlier Engineer’s Guild army. Kind of rounds out that force. It will stick out a bit in the current Nordland allies force but, so be it.

This Steam Tank came to me partially assembled and I didn’t want to face ripping it apart and dealing with ill-fitting parts. Just went with it as is, adding on the missing bits in plastic. Now on some joints, glue (or filler?) had been applied rather liberally, I painted that up as some kind of rust and grime, it’s most visible around the door. It’ll do.

(http://i.imgur.com/1NVi9N1.jpg)

Looking forward to running over things but, since we are on summer break that won’t be until the end of August. In the meantime stay cool, my friends.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2023 - Steam Tank)
Post by: GamesPoet on July 28, 2023, 03:37:56 PM
I like the looks of that Steam Tank.  Alot! :icon_cool: :eusa_clap: :::cheers:::
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2023 - Steam Tank)
Post by: Archilector_Malaga on August 15, 2023, 03:33:10 PM
Very good job with that steam tank!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2023 - Steam Tank)
Post by: Sharkbelly on August 18, 2023, 03:40:31 AM
Very cool!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 27Jul2023 - Steam Tank)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 08, 2023, 07:07:05 AM
Thanks guys!

Time for an update on the last chapter in the little Tale.

-----------
7Sep2023
Well, August came and left. I painted up the last batch of ~200pts for our little Tale of X Gamers.

A detachment of swordsmen to go with the Halberdiers. Nothing to special, just good old-fashioned plastic soldiers doing their thing.

(http://i.imgur.com/e8aqFl0.jpg)

And then a warrior priest to round out the force. Somehow I had ended up with a spare Volkmar and put him to good use.

(http://i.imgur.com/VwWYO2O.jpg)

Here is a little group shot of the whole gang.
(http://i.imgur.com/yeBr0Sx.jpg)

This ended up as a nice extension to the Nordland force. I may do a few more of the Knights at some point but currently the Dark Gods are whispering into my ears, tempting me to paint some unholy models.

Oh, and we played a nice big game at the end where everybody got to bring their entire force painted in the Tale. It was a good time that I failed to properly document as usual. Will see if I can scrounge up some pictures at least.
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Rowsdower on September 08, 2023, 02:00:01 PM
Great job
Always good to see an old character resurface
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 09, 2023, 05:43:15 AM
Great job
Always good to see an old character resurface

Thanks for your continued patronage of this little thread.

Here are pictures from our final game as the main lines collided. My poor Empire lads got clobbered by some mean Beastmen. It was not the finest day for the Empire.

Still, lots of painted models on the table, all done for and during our Tale. There is less grey in the world now and that's a win.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230909/299f9471769f025d467d7b8750eedc8b.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230909/975edabbfc93ee75832731a376027c70.jpg)
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Rowsdower on September 12, 2023, 02:20:01 PM
Did the orcs bash apart the skeletons or did the skeletons slowly overcome the orcs?
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Naitsabes on September 12, 2023, 05:25:06 PM
Did the orcs bash apart the skeletons or did the skeletons slowly overcome the orcs?

There was a vampire lord with the skeletons. Overcome they did but it was anything but slow  :-P
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Gankom on September 13, 2023, 02:24:17 AM
Fantastic stuff Naitsabes. Really looking good!
Title: Re: The Road to Volganof (update 7Sep2023 - Swordsmen & priest)
Post by: Rowsdower on September 19, 2023, 08:15:04 AM
Did the orcs bash apart the skeletons or did the skeletons slowly overcome the orcs?

There was a vampire lord with the skeletons. Overcome they did but it was anything but slow  :-P

One of the funniest things I've ever seen on the tabletop is two 40+ groups of zombies slowly advancing on each other