Topic: Altdorf Bannermen

[AdamWales]

First time drilling, first time removing shield bumps off arms, first time building banners from paper and cocktail sticks.

Haven't painted in a few years and these are not far off my previous skill level (sadly).

Starting models were men at arms/henchmen from Heroquest Advanced that i found when i attempted a sort out.


I know that the goblin green bases with flock are old fashioned, but want to use up some random models while finishing off a little Altdorf troop, and getting into the swing of it.

http://imgur.com/3cM2nVo

Trying to link image from google as thread on photobucket deadends recently.

edit: after one forum member got a dead picture i am trying to link to new imgur account

[Zygmund]

Welcome!

Not bad at all. You make it sound like you should be ashamed, but no, these are nice conversions and the painting works.

There are some easy tricks to improve, if that's what you're after.
- You can moisten the paper banners with liquid paper glue (PVA, thanks for the term), bend them like they were flowing in the wind, and let them dry. Maybe not something you want to do now, after you've painted them, but in the future.
- Basic layering of the figures can bring more nuance and life to them. You can always add one layer more. It's a question of what you want to achieve vs. the time spent.

Nothing wrong with the green bases + long grass. No-one can tell you what the 'right aesthetics' should be here. Your's actually look quite realistic. You could add sand and/or a couple of stones, but that's really only if you want to have that kind of ground beneath their feet.

If you really would like precision advice, please take bigger photos, and try to get the lighting more natural. Only better pictures will reveal where you can improve.

Looking forward to see more of your Averland warband.

-Z

[AdamWales]

Thank you Zygmund,

I am not ashamed, have been in and out of these forums over the last week and i can see plenty of beautiful figures. Think mine would pass tabletop standard and i even know a few ways i can improve, better eyes, more ink, wash and start on dry brushing, highlights. I am looking for ways to improve. I have about 10 miniatures to get my eye in and complete this Altdorf troop, after that i have a lot of ideas and a lot of models to play with.

Liquid glue might be PVA, would definitely try this out, possibly on a knight i have done with a pennant this week.

I want to see these bannermen in their units once i have done a few more models to fill out the ranks, layering is something i hope tp have a go at on my unit hero models.

I have a nice camera and will definitely try to get better photos on future models, think i may well have thrown the photo of these guys through my phones built in edit to make them "pop" rather than be rue to life (paint).

Trying to get my head around AOS and all the developments previous to it in the last 20 years has left me a little lost, but this classic base look is going to carry throughout my Altdorf.

Something new for my bases if i get around to the Nuln and Stirland troops i am imagining.

Adam

[GamesPoet]

Could only see a black box with white x across it.

[AdamWales]

GamesPoet i have taken out the google link and i am trying one from imgur, shows on my laptop through two browsers.

Let me know if you (or anyone else passing by) can see it.

Adam

[GamesPoet]

Still see only as described.

[AdamWales]

<a href="http://imgur.com/3cM2nVo"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/3cM2nVo.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Web link to it above.



So image appears within my preview now.

I also seem to have published the image on imgur itself

[AdamWales]

Seems to be working now.

This is the other figure that i had a go at this week.

Very basic knight, i think from Battle Masters. Added a bits box crowned skull insignia, maybe from a militia or knights box, and a paper pennant. On a horse i already had painted.

He will act as mounted hero until i get my confidence up to tackle a character figure.

Adam

[Zygmund]

I also seem to have published the image on imgur itself

You need to publish at least one photo in imgur to make the rest become visible.

Like the mounted hero. Those old Battlemaster figures are quite nice.

Maybe more highlights in the caparison and feather, some colour to the shield, and blacklining or shading to separate the copper parts of the lance from the blue shaft?

The skull is a bit rough. And I would place it closer to the lance shaft. And such a long banner would be a good place to try the PVA trick to make it flow. 

-Z

[GamesPoet]

I see the pictures now!

[AdamWales]

Games Poet, glad that they are visible.

Zygmund, thanks for the imgur info. I do like these knights, clean, angular, a little bulky and squat. Skull was left over from the foot banner me, just trimmed. Would definitely consider refining these things on the next attempt.

Adam

[AdamWales]

 These four will be leading units alongside the standard bearers.

I am trying to work out some musicians, not sure how many i have in my collection that i could use, or some simple conversions.

If i can work out how to take better pictures of multiple figures i will take photos of the units.

Adam

[Sharkbelly]

Very nice! I enjoy seeing some of the old Heroquest and Battlemasters guys.

[AdamWales]

My pile of stuff has never painted metal stuff from the 90's, and plastic figures, ebayed newer stuff, badly painted (by others) bargains amongst others. Just painting towards a small Altdorf troop before other models distract me.

Not sure where i got the Heroquest, and he might me my only mounted battle master, though red plastic archers and grey halberdier figures still abide.

I did bid on Battle masters this week but i shouldnt of.

[Xathrodox86]

Good effort, I like how you used the old Heroquest chaps for the bearers. I've read about your work on one of the Warhammer FB pages. Keep it up.

[AdamWales]

Xathrodox86 don't think it would be me on the Warhammer FB pages. I am interested in teaching myself some simple conversions... have two on the go at the moment but taking my time, blu tack has saved me so much heartache as things look wrong in mock up.

[AdamWales]

My little army has come together... a roughly 1000 points worth in a few of the older editions. Would be spending a little more on characters than i would like. (All the stuff photoed wouldn't make it into a single force e.g. griffon unlikely to be fielded).

Fluff: Meet the current Altdorf Expeditionary Wetterfrosh Force (The Weatherfrogs). A small, quick moving force sent to take the temperature in regions that are vulnerable to the Empire's enemies. A mix of out of favour veterans and newbloods that need to be tested, their reports or lack thereof (after complete destruction) help the Empire direct its larger forces to where they are needed.

20 Halberdiers and Hero and Standard Bearer
20 Gunners and Hero and Standard Bearer
20 Spearmen inc Hero and Standard Bearer
10 Archers inc Hero and Standard Bearer
Cannon and 3 crew
Hellblaster and 3 Crew
Knight Mounted
Grey Wizard Mounted
Amber Wizard Mounted

I am unlikely to ever play them anywhere but happy to take advice on how to improve them as an army. I am playing around with a pair of minor conversions at the moment and not sure what i will go onto after that.

[AdamWales]

For the last week i have been playing with these Bretonian bowmen to Empire wizard conversions.

Gold Wizard - removed bow, arrows, off hands, filed away bracer. Drilled bow hand to fit cocktail stick. Severed the staff topper from a Bretonian knights helm, found ribbon on another knights helm. Added a pistol hand from Empire bits box. First go with green stuff, created eye mask as extension to helm, created a stopper for bottom of staff.

I had a clear vision with this wizard, a young journeyman of the gold order wearing practical clothes from the laboratory and armed with a pistol he has packed with improved black powder.

Wanted to try a little more with the next conversion

Amber Wizard - removed the bow, arrows, the head. Filed the shoes off his legs and trimmed his toes. Drilled bow hand to fit cocktail stick. The staff topper was going to be many different things that it created out of blue tack and didn't like, my son almost lost a toy triceratops skeleton head to the staff. Finally spotted an oversized skull in a piece of scenery and extracted it. Went through a lot of totemic additions in the trial stage but finally found a loose horse tail and took a triple feather of an empire soldiers hat. Found a clloak that fitted which i think is from the white wolves or maybe the knights panther.

Got a little more adventerous with the greenstuff to create a (over) heavy staff.

This amber wizard has been about, he runs barefoot through the world and has faced the colds to gather his polar bear cloak, he dresses practically and has not yet gone quite as wild as the older wizards in his order.

Enjoyed painting these two, the read and blue feather/ribbon tie them into Altdorf army.

Tempted to have a conversion for each order of magic but also like the idea of making my own priest.

[AdamWales]

Better shot of Gold Wizard.



Better shot of the Amber Wizard.

Off to chop up some figures to try a Warrior Priest and thinking about a Witch Hunter conversion.

[Xathrodox86]

First time I see A) a Gold Wizard with a pistol and B) made from a bretonnian bowman. I love these models.

[AdamWales]

Thank you, did a lot of reading through Warhammer Roleplaying game and felt that the Gold wizards work with black powder would make them a shoe in to be armed with a gun on the battlefield. I do worry that he ends off looking a little too much like a standard bearer.

I have a lot of Brettonian archers and googling led me to many different conversions so i think their may be more adventurous conversion attempts in time.

Currently living with 3 blu tack warrior priests and a blu tack witch hunter before commiting to them. Chopped up quite a few minis for them.

[AdamWales]

Introducing my three Warrior Priests - Chapter of the Golden Skull ... kitbash and greenstuff, i wanted them to have a Crusader feel. I started with bright red but it looked much better after dirtying it up.

Apologies for photos i used the quick camera not the one that takes better photos of minis and my lighting went overboard.

Single Hammer and Shield -Top half is from a mounted Bretonian Knight, waist and legs from militia model, head is from a random metal mini that i had already decapitated for another build, White Wolves hammer and a shield with seperate symbol from my bits box. Green stuff to make chainmail skirt front and back, and an attempt at gorget. Lollypopstick and card to create book of Sigmar. I filed chainmail effect off this chaps head

Two Handed Hammer -Mostly a militia man i think he was either spear or halberd. Shield and emblem from bits box, wreath or laurel for his head. Picked a helmeted head and filed him down. Greenstuff to create skirt, and hammer head (two cured imprints of seals, with fresh green stuff as main body of slegehammer in between.

Twin Hammers - mostly a militia man, head chosen for ease of smoothing down. White Wolf hammer arm and additional hammerfor his other hand. Greenstuff to create chainmail skirts.

Enjoyed this kitbash. Most of my multi pose miniature resources are already glued and i picked them up cheap on ebay. I chop up and work out combinations in blu tack before commiting to a look and accessories surround the figure throughout the build as i winnow down. I am really happy with these three. Again i discovered a lot during the painting process.

My Witch Hunter is mostly built and undercoated, next up most likely are Master Engineers or more wizards.

[Xathrodox86]

I really like the way in which the third WP holds his hammers, like "I don't give a crap, yo".

[AdamWales]

I like him peaking out from beween the twin warhammers as well. Intimidation to the zealots and initial dual hammer blow for the chaos spawn.

[Rogers Kul]

Your army is growing fast Adam. Keep painting and converting; as much as you practice, your skills will improve faster.