Topic: Darknight's Knights (Dark and Otherwise) - Thread Superseded!!!

[S.O.F]

Very nice, always like the look of the old bronze or copper type statues myself but I like this one too. Now how about some copious amounts of pigeon droppings for extra 'realism'

As to Delthos' point perhaps some sort of band with and inscription running round the entire base (particularly the large gap on the one side) could be the best remedy?

[Darknight]

I actually rather like the unevenness - it adds a certain randomness which I think works quite well. If it were too regular, it doesn't look "real" to me for some reason. It looks like the blocks have settled over time (which, while inaccurate, is something I like).

Similarly with the weathering; the marble masonry I've seen tends to look fairly new, even when it's quite old. The variations in color with the washes give it some visual interest.

I suppose it's a question of personal preference, and there can always be variation between different pieces of scenery in the same collection.

[S.O.F]

Similarly with the weathering; the marble masonry I've seen tends to look fairly new, even when it's quite old. The variations in color with the washes give it some visual interest.

Alas no pigeon droppings then?

[Delthos]

I'd think that with the abundance of wood burning and most likely coal burning that there would be lots of black residue from all the smoke on statues. While the pollution in modern times is probably more corrosive, the air pollution in the setting is likely much dirtier. I'd think that unless someone is washing the statues regularly, they wouldn't be that clean.

As for the unevenness when only having one layer of bricks like here it does add character. When you have to do 10 to 20 courses of bricks you'll be glad you have even sized bricks!

[Timbor]

Looks great!  I always enjoy the variation of a few uneven blocks - even if it causes a few headaches.  If you are casting tons, it is likely there will be some variation in block height.  Sandpaper is a quick remedy to that though.

Also, +1 for pigeon droppings!

[Darknight]

There will be no poop.

[Timbor]

 

Now where will all the pigeon-bomb pigeons hang out when they are off-duty???

[GamesPoet]

I like that statue!

[Darknight]

More work done on the Ladies of Battle - ready for their undercoat, Mister DeMille!

[King]

DK this unit is coming along well and your army is surely unique.  Very nice work indeed 

[Darknight]

And here are the Ladies of Battle completed! As usual, click for a larger image.

[Maza]

Fantastic work - all the details and how they are tied together by a distinct concept and a restrained yet bold colour scheme. This may well be your best project so far, in my view. Lots of soul!   

 

[Darknight]

Thanks, Maza! It was really fun to convert them all and get the whole unit "right" with the little details. Painting seemed a chore, and I don't think it is my best work. I was worried mid-way through that it was going to look awful, but now it is finished it seems to come together well-enough.

This is, of course, the wonderful gold / bronze color I mixed up - over a white undercoat, a mixture of brown ink and gold paint, then drybrushed with bronze. It gives a very nice result, and I am going to be using this color elsewhere. I find the metallic paints can be thick and mixing them with an ink works well for a base coat.

[Darknight]

Well, despite the fact I am supposed to be finishing off the painting of my infantry center for the 2013 Painting Challenges (plug-plug!) I have done some modelling of something not on the program! Quelle surprise!

(In my defence; I was working on the final bit of modelling for the Challenge - an alternate unit filler for the Ladies of Battle - and so I cleared my desk, swept it clean, hoovered etc. and then reset from painting to modelling; put the paints and palette away, got the glue and the files out etc. I started work on the unit filler, but realized I would need some strong epoxy for one joint. Mixed that up, glued the joint in place, and it takes a full day to solidly cure. That part will need drilling and filing to be finished, so I want the joint fully cured . . . which meant no more modelling of that miniature today! Rather than reset the desk, I finished off the modelling on this project - especially as the last piece I needed for it arrived yesterday - thanks PhillyT!)

Ahem.

For Christmas, a friend got me a giftcard for the FLGS - and they had a rather nice resin model, Ahnamoth the Withering Storm from Enigma miniatures - it'd been there for a while, and was a nice mini but a little pricey for my taste. Still, gift card, eh?



It's absolutely huge - it is a 54mm scale minotaur, which makes the model 4" to the tip of its horns on the scenic base. So, this wasn't going to be just a unit filler or count-as Ogre or something. Oh, no . . . this will be a counts-as Steam Tank!

Sorry, this post is getting long and perhaps overly detailed. Let's get some pics in here now I've finished the modelling. As usual, click for larger pictures.


So, this is what I have made. Inspired by the infamous myth of the Cretan minotaur I have modelled Asterion (the minotaur's given-name) standing triumphant in front of a gate (representing the entrance to the labyrinth) with a slain Theseus behind him, with Ariadne (Theseus' sometime- but then jilted-lover) slyly standing by with a pair of scissors in her hand . . . Theseus, of course, used a thread provided by Ariadne (Asterion's half-sister) to find his way out of the labyrinth alive in the traditional telling of the myth. Here, of course, things are a little different . . .


I've modelled the elements of the scene on three bases, so it can assembled differently. The first three pictures show a standard 50x100mm "chariot" configuration, and this one shows a 100x50mm "display" configuration (it would also work in a cavalry unit, I suppose). Notice that the square pavement on the bases lines up in both configurations.



A detail of the (treacherous? Or simply fraternal?) Ariadne - she has the shield icon all members of the Order have, as well as the laurel wreath (worn as a garter around her thigh) - and the dead Theseus. I'll model him with a little thread - some sewing cotton or something - tied around one wrist and tangled on the floor.


The gate itself - it is made of Hirst Art blocks on a plasticard backing. PhillyT got me an extra one of the bull skulls from the Minotaur kit - thanks, Phil! - and they work really well there. I have sketched a forced-perspective drawing of the labyrinth's tunnels - I am going to paint that in there, giving the impression of the depths of the maze. And, no, I have no idea how the Minotaur got out of such a small gate . . .


Detail of Asterion, and his ax. I made the blade from plasticard, and used Instant Mold to take an impression from a small pewter medallion showing the Chartres Labyrinth. By using Milliput and superglue, I was able to transfer the details of the medallion to the face of the ax blades, creating a rather nice effect. The two faces of the ax have the top and bottom halves of the original circular labyrinth.

Anyway, that is that! Comments welcome - I'm likely not going to change anything, because it was a heck of a modelling job with all the little details! - but if there is anything glaring it will be edited. I am going to paint Asterion white, because his father was a white bull.

And, yes, I have been inspired by this model, a dryad in my bits box who is neither-more-nor-less slutting-it-up, and some Lord of the Rings warriors of Minas Tirith I found in a case to make "Pasiphaë's guards" . . .

[S.O.F]

And, no, I have no idea how the Minotaur got out of such a small gate . . .

Simple, a Wizard did it.

Again lovely, though heretical, work you've done once again. The entrance is particularly nice.

[phillyt]

I love it!  But there are hairy beasts and horns, so how couldn't I?

[Darknight]

Philly, I know all about you and horny, hairy beasts . . .

Alright, latest model. As detailed in my background, the Order was founded following a battle during which an avatar of the goddess appeared and killed things dead. People will remember my Ladies of Battle from a few posts up with their unit filler of a fallen statue - that is one of the two optional fillers I wanted to make. They can be fielded with that filler or with an alternate one (which can also double as a Captasus).

Behold! The Avatar of Myrmidia! (click for bigger pictures)



The model is based on a Reaper 54mm sculpt with a fair bit of additional sculpting and details. The images above are of her on her own; below she is seen in the unit (the colors are off on this one - I think because I was taking the picture in the cabinet and it's kind of dark in there.)

[DariusZero]

Great conversion, looks impressive.

[Alleton]

Maybe the Minotaur isn't the one that came in through the gate, maybe Theseus came from there and entered the Minotaur's chambers. Great job! Your work always puts me to shame while inspiring me at the same time.

I love the avatar of Myrmidia, I had considered buying that mini but wasn't sure about it (Besides having far too many wants for my budget.)

[phillyt]

I love this army!  Fantastic job!

 

You get one "Get out of Burning Free" card from me courtesy of the Inquisition.

[Darknight]

Thanks for all the comments, guys! I am trying to actually get things finished before I post pictures of them here - so here are the two latest models. These are from Reaper, and are Perseus and a figure who could very easily be Achilles. I've made some small conversions to them - but nothing major. Click to make the picture larger.



These are going to be the two champions for my Swordsmen detachments attached to my main Greatsword unit.

[phillyt]

That Perseus model is ace and a great paint job!

[Darknight]

Thanks, Phil. It is a Reaper sculpt - they do lovely work. I just added the cross and the wreath.

I've been using a lot of inks recently; both of those models are painted over white undercoats with fairly watery basecoats and lots of washes (similar to Chumley's style). I'm not as quick as he is, but I rather like the results.

[phillyt]

I hardly highlight anything anymore.  It is all basecoats and washes.  Far quicker paints with perfectly acceptable or even fantastic results.

[Darknight]

Another couple of models - just two Ogre unit fillers and my infantry center is finished (40 Greatswords & two detachments of 20 Swordsmen each). The previous heroes were the champions for those detachments. Here (click picture to embiggen) is the champion for the Greatswords and the Warrior Priestess.



I still need to varnish them, and get a dab of gloss on jewels.

The champion is a Heracles model from Reaper - really lovely sculpt - and is painted with a lot of washes and such. The Warrior Priestess is an old figure - maybe Shadowrun or something like that? - which I converted to be an NPC for an old Vampire game I ran. She was part painted, left in a case, and was hauled out and converted again. I think she shows the scars and it's not the best paint job!

Never mind - she is done!

I just realized I don't have pics of her two bodyguards - Spartan axemen. I'll have to get her varnished, in the unit, and then take a picture of the whole thing together.