Eldar Warlock – Golden Demon UK 40K Single Miniature Silver, 1999

 

 

Over the years my conversions got more and more extreme, sometimes ending up as something unrecognisable from the original which would take hours and hours of work.  Back in 1999 I was a bit more restrained (or less able?) and I think this model shows that more subtle changes here and there can make a huge difference.  My Eldar Warlock has sat quietly in my cabinet for over 20 years now, overshadowed by many other zany creations, but he still catches my eye thanks to his organic simplicity (Note – my wife just spotted the photo on my monitor and thought it was beautiful... and asked who had painted it… very different to my more recent monstrosities?!). 

 

Around the time I started this mini I had bought my first Dremel, and spent many happy hours simply chopping up metal models – I could scream thinking about some of the classics I destroyed with those spinning blades of doom!  Thankfully this one was spared.  The original model was a classic Warlock – if you compare the two it’s a bit of a ‘spot the difference’ once you get past the new weapon and helmet extension.  The Dremel was used differently with this, more to clean up areas that had had something cut away (largely on the sleeve) and to carve the blade.   

 

  

 The old Wraithsword was cut away and replaced with a new halberd made from metal rod, a plastic Eldar Chainsword, a blade made of plasticard and some Milliput.  The Original hand had to be twisted to fit the weapon, and the staff was carefully placed to not only follow the line of the robes, but also to cover as much of the ‘cleaned up’ areas as possible.  It was also placed to run parallel to the right leg.

The helmet was extended using a really nice back section from an old Rogue Trader era Guardian, blended to the original with more Milliput.  Then there were further simple little details added – a gem here, a little tail there.  These additions might seem almost insignificant at the time, but my favourite models are ones where you can keep going back and seeing new things… How many times would someone have to look before noticing the icon on the forehead or the Eldar script on the back of the rock? 

 

Painted entirely in GW paints over black (which you can see around the edges of the faceplate – almost green!) this followed the Ulthwe scheme of bone and black.  I have always enjoyed painting bone, and this scheme contrasts really well I feel.   It would have been easy to paint the detail on the robes in bone as well, but using grey as the base colour (up to the same white highlight) gives some variety without being overstated.  To help this further I used the same grey for the white detail as I used to highlight the black robes; effectively one flows into the other.

 

Red gems, crest and tassel provide a nice bit of spot colour that isn’t overwhelming, while the yellow face gives a nice central focus before you move on to the rest of the model.  Grab a ruler and have a look – if you compare the overall height and width of the model (including the weapon and base) it’s almost dead centre.  That means most people will be looking at the face first so it is really important to get it looking right.  When seeing a model people usually look for faces first and the eyes as the first part of the face… I’ll talk more about that in another blog…

 

A nice rock for the base (to which the model has been pinned thanks again to the Dremel!) with some plasticard runes to give you a bit more of a story around the model.  You can see more of the toothbrush grass (see my Lictor Blog) and larger leaves, two of which were paper which was shaped then coated in PVA glue, the other was made from Milliput.  For once I think the green base rim works here as it’s the same Goblin Green I used for the grass!  How I miss Goblin Green….

 

This mini won a Silver Daemon, nestled surprisingly between Werner Klocke’s elaborate Jain Zar and Jakob Nielsen’s very unique Imperial Missionary.  I never expect to win any awards, so this was great… especially as Jakob’s Missionary is nicer… but don’t tell him that…

Check out the other winners here:  http://demonwinner.free.fr/uk/1999/golden_demon_winner.php?categorie=1

 

 Thanks for reading... thoughts, tips, questions and comments are welcomed :)

 

P.S. If you're looking for older miniatures at a decent price (avoid the scalpers!) why not check out Figflog on eBay?  He always has a nice range of stuff available.

Find him here:  https://www.facebook.com/AverageJoesStudio/

 

The Wormlord

 

I can remember exactly when I became a devotee of Nurgle.  It was in 3^rd Year Senior (Year 9 these days), in the classroom before school.  A mate had brought in a copy of the Realm of Chaos Lost and the Damned book (not the more recent Horus Heresy novel of the same name.  Is nothing sacred?) and a few of us were discussing the merits of the various Chaos Gods.  I was immediately taken by the colours, the variety and the sheer joy felt by Nurgle’s followers, as well as the fact that they were so gross.  Happy but Gross.   It’s a coincidence that was around the same time I started getting really spotty.

That was it.  From then on anything that was a bit Chaosy was painted predominantly in greens, as Nurgle armour should be.  Then I started to convert and sculpt and as time went on more buboes, tentacles and goo were added to the mix…  If it looked like it could join Nurgle, it did.  Which too many years later eventually led to this character.  The Wormlord.
 

It was inspired by 2 things.  Firstly I liked elements of the newly released Warhammer Khorne Bloodstoker, and wanted to Nurglify him.  Secondly I had just got myself some Tube tools for making tentacles, cables, etc. Whenever I had some left over Green stuff it would become a little worm;  I had a small pot with a few of them… and so I set to work incorporating them with the Bloodstoker.  A lot of the original model was stripped and carved away.  His helmet and mouth area were great, but the front of the helm resculpted.  There are armour pieces and arms from the Putrid Blightkings and the spear is from a Slaaneshi Hellstrider.  

 I liked the idea of the original model having a whip, so kept that… of course it’s a long wormy tentacle, but near enough!  If you look closely you’ll see the tentacle is actually growing out the back of the Champion’s head.  Such are the gifts of Papa Nurgle.  Then of course there are worms, plenty of worms, sculpted out of Green stuff using the tube tools, some with a thin wire core so that they can be bent to shape once set and in place.




 

 

By this point I had figured out sculpting with Green Stuff and always keeping the tools wet (I use stainless steel dentists’ tools purchased from eBay).  I’m still not great at sculpting large complicated areas, I tend to layer each muscle / armour piece / area of clothing / etc. at a time, leave it to set, them move to the next.  Fortunately there are always more spots to add while waiting!

  I do a lot of research for my models – the colours, appearance and textures.  A walk in the woods with my camera for an Elf or tree, or I Google animals if I’m painting fur or horns.  It’s always worth doing your homework before you get started.  I’m lucky (or should that be unlucky?) enough that I work in an area that I can sometimes get to see some of the more grotesque things in life, which does help with things like this, but you want them at times to be a bit stylized, not toooo realistic.  It’s supposed to be Fantasy after all.

 

This model was given a straight black undercoat and painted with Citadel and Model Colour / Vallejo paints.  I tend to use Citadel for the colourful areas such as armour and clothing as well as the metals, while I use Vallejos for the more natural colours.  Also a combination of both for glazes and washes.

 

I love Nurglings.  They are one of the best things in the Warhammer World. Each one tells a little story of its own, and they are small enough to be able to add one or two to a base and have them interact with their surroundings.  You shouldn’t spot them at first as the natural colours blend in with the base a bit – the Character himself should be catching your eye... but then on further examination you can make them out.  Look at them, up to their mischief!

The long drip of goo coming out of the big worm was stretched clear plastic built up with glue, similar to the Lictor all those years before.  There is further stretched goo around the model (mostly on the worms) created with UHU glue left to dry for a bit before being pulled into shape between different areas.  If you time it right it will still be sticky and will stick to the next area.  These are done before the model is matt varnished, but are given a couple of layers of gloss varnish to bring back the shine and add some strength.

 

 

The base is a bit of wood chipping, shaped, with a mix of fine sand and glue over some areas (and plenty over the ‘supports’ so they don’t look like plastic tubing).  I painted the Champion, Nurglings and worms separate from the base then glued them in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like this model, especially the worms.  It was entered into one Golden Demon competition but didn’t even make the first cut.  Maybe too ‘wormy’ for the new Age of Sigmar…?

 

Thanks for reading... thoughts, tips, questions and comments are welcomed :)

 

 

 

P.S. I do get requests for commissions.  Sadly I don't paint enough or fast enough to make this viable.  I can however thoroughly recommend Average Joe's Painting Studio.  A nice enough guy, and a good painter ;)
 

Find him here:  https://www.facebook.com/AverageJoesStudio/