March for Macragge '26 (Part 2)

 With all I have going on, I managed to make a little progress on these guys. 

First off, I basecoated them using an ancient Citadel Colour: Space Marine Blue. This is still my favorite dark blue but I'm starting to run low on it and I really should try to find a replacement for it sooner than later. 

Space Marine Blue.

The next layer is still a current color, and that is Macragge Blue. 

Macragge Blue. 

...and that's as far as I got.  To see my recipe for this scheme check out Ultramarines Color Scheme Test. 

-Until next time!

March For Macragge '26 (part 1)

Assault Intercessors squad 3.

Another month arrives and with it another painting challenge. This one is March for Macragge. This is something the hobbyists on the Ulramarines, Strategies & Tactics Facebook Group do every year. Essentially members commit to completing an Ultramarines specific project by the end of the month of March. I decided to commit to finishing another squad of Assault Intercessors. This is the third squad of five Assault Intercessors that I assembled two years ago (I had to skip out on this challenge last year).  I primed them in Chaos Black and... never touched them again.

Sergeant with Thunder Hammer.

This will be a real challenge for me as this month also sees me back at the drawing board producing new artwork for the first time in about a year. So free time will be a bit more precious than it usually is, but I think I can make it work.  After all, March is a long month! 

The Blue Horror Picture Show (Part 1)

 

Classic Blue Horrors.

What do you do when you thought you had 20 mint condition Blue Horrors sealed in blister packs but you only actually have 12? 

12 metal Blue Horrors.

While handling these blister packs one of them randomly opened spilling forth it's contents into the fresh air for the first time in 30 years.  So I figured I would just go ahead and paint them up. I used Contrast paints on them:  Asurmen Blue and Skeleton Horde.  That's it. Ok, a dot of yellow on their eyes, but really, that's it. They are battle ready and don't look half bad. 

Even Tzeentch protests industrial pollution 

Okay, so back to the numbers challenge that I started this post with:  I am short six models. I really want a big 20 model horde. Well, trying to fill that difference with second hand miniatures from eBay is proving to be quite a challenge, both physically and financially.  

So I tabled that idea and went ahead with working with the plastic set that I have. These are awesome models also, plus they also come with Brimstone Horrors.  Building them was trickier than I imagined they would be,  but I really like them a lot. 

Plastic Blue Horrors, primed. 

They have a few more details such as flames and jewelry items that will make them a little more time consuming then the metal ones above. But time is something I am out of so maybe I can get them done in another post? 

Coming up in March: A return to 40k, and back to doing some art. I hope you'll come back to see it then! 

Eltharion (Part 2)

 

Eltharion is finally complete.

Continuing on from Part 1

Ulthuan Grey.

When it came time to chose a color for the long blind fold, I wanted something to contrast against the other colors. But I didn't want it to clash either. The painted example GW presented in their publicatuons had a red blind fold but I decided that it reminded me too much of blood which gives the impression that this is a fresh wound. 

Luxion Purple, a contrast paint, proved to be the solution here. It's a hotter color than the other colors but keeps a footing on blue side of the color wheel. Historically purple clothing has always had a royal connotation due to it's rarity, and I like the subtle implications of that here. 

My plan from the beginning (as far back as early '00s) was to paint the evening starfield on the interior of his cloak. It's an ongoing theme for this army and I think it worked out great on this model. 

Finally, after two decades Eltharion the Blind was attached to his weapon, The White Sword (sounds like an English pub doesn't it?). 

And here he is with some friends. I think he fits in well with them, despite not having a pointy helm. 

"Point me in the right direction lads!"

When he will meet his tabletop debute is anyone's guess, but it won't be until after it warms up enough for me to spray a sealer on him to help reduce chipping. 

"Challenge accepted! So, which one of you is Pink?"

Eltharion (Part 1)

 Eltharion. 

Not the Grim one, the blind one.

At some point in the 6th edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle GW had the "genius" idea* of taking one the iconic High Elf characters and turning him into a blind swordmaster.  By no means is this miniature an improvement over the incredible original, but I thought he was cool enough. Also his rules,   at the time, were just awesome. In fact when I read them again recently it was a stark reminder of just how tuned down TOW is compared to the earlier editions of WFB. 

So I got this miniature back when it was sparkling new.  But for some reason now lost to me,  I just never managed to complete it. The White Sword was the only piece of the miniature that I consider 'done and all these years later I am still very happy with it. Although it's not very white is it?

The White Sword.

The first thing I need to do before I proceed with finishing this guy is to address the base. I saw no need to remove and scrap his base, so I chose to use an expansion ring to extend it out to a proper 25mm. 

It fit perfectly and after some modelng lue was officially now on a 25mm base. 

To bring it all together some grit was then added to the extension. 

And then I  painted it so as to blend the old with the new, and presto! 

As I continue to work on this chap,  I will brighten those rocks up a bit to conform with the rest of my High Elf models.  

*Add sarcasm.

Handmaiden of the Everqueen

I was about to order the release of the 8th edition era Handmaiden of the Evergreen, when I remembered that I had two of the older models from the '90s. It didn't take me long to find them. One was primed black (back when I was working on the High Elves in the early '00s, black was my primer of choice) and the other was bare metal. She is armed just like the "current" model, although she is probably a bit smaller. 

I started off with Contrast Paints. Specifically Aggarros Dunes for armor and hair, Space Wolves Grey for the areas that are going to up white, and Asurmen Blue for the interior of her cloak.

Retributor Gold was painted on the armor next. This was followed by Auric Armour Gold.  

I used an old classic on the hair. A craft paint called Lemonade by Folk Art. I think is my favorite part of the model. 

Stormhost Silver was added as a final highlight to all the metal areas. 

The skin was done using Guilliman Fleshwash, Cadian Fleshtone, Eldar Flesh and a final highlight of Palid Flesh. I added a light dry brushing of Whitescar as a final highlight to her hair. I guess that's a frosted look now? Not sure about that terminology but it feels right....

Once the gemstones were painted the miniature was essentially done. A grass tuft was added to the rear of the base, and of course the base rim was painted using the classic Goblin Green.

Now I just need the outside temperature to warm up so I can seal the model to protect it from chipping ( It's metal after all). In the meanwhile I suppose I can set up some interesting photos using her. 

She doesn't just face her demons, she challenges them.

The Pink Horror Picture Show

 Following the Screamers, it was time to focus on some Core troops for my Tzeentch Daemons of Chaos army. 

Pink Horrors!

These guys have been kicking around in my collection for years, with each edition of 40k or WFB coming and going, as were their rules. These guys used to split into Blue Borrors and then into  Brimstone Horrors. This is no longer the case in The Old World, and now you just take each unit as it's own type. Kind of a shame really as I loved the uniqueness of that mechanic. 

These Pink Horrors are the mid-90's versions. One way to tell is that they all have faces stolen from the classic California Raisins commercials and their finger tips have claws instead of tubal openings. 

Screamer Pink

The first layer of paint (that wasn't primer) was Screamer Pink. 

Carroburg Crimson.

Then a wash of Carroburg Crimson was applied across the models. 

Pink Horror.

Naturally I had to use Pink Horror on Pink Horrors so that was the next color. 

 

Titillating Pink 

As bright as Pink Horror is, it pales in comparison to my 30+ year old vintage Citadel Color Titillating Pink.  After all of these miniatures were colored, well, they more 90% done. 

Mostly done.

The Standard Bearer model was a bit more exotic and required the most attention. 

So sassy he needs his own post.

I tried to make his thorns appear a bit more wicked by giving them a violet luster.  He has feathers and I colored them using Asurmen Blue. 

Finished!

Here is the champion, I spent way too much time stewing over how to paint his punch dagger. Ultimately I decided to make it seem like a  boney kind of protrusion. 

Finished Champion.

Once all the Pink Horrors were done I added grass tufts to their bases and their movement tray. This turned out well, and it almost seems like a seamless piece, which has always been my intention. 

The moment of completion.

Okay, here's their glamor shot. Hopefully I can get the rest of their Chaotic buddies completed soon and we can see them on the tabletop spreading mayhem and horror. 

Glamor shot!