Lead Figures:
Dwarf Army:
Started in 2001, continued in 2005 when I actually started gaming with it. A fun experience building and painting an army instead of single figures. Scroll down for all pictures and more information...
Pictures:
The entire army (doh)
Warriors - these are a right esoteric mix of figures. Could also double as Hammerers
Warriors. Could also double as Rangers
Ironbreakers. The only unit that actually ranks up properly =).
Thunderers.
Cannon and Stone Thrower - using the mortar model as I like it more.
Gyrocopter conversion, based on an old idea, using Gyrocopter and Dethkopta parts amongst others. The conversion took two days. Painted better than other warmachines to do it justice.
Engineer conversion.
Runepriest.
Battle Standard Bearer conversion based on Runepriest. The banner took a full day to paint.
Thane conversion using a Mordheim model.
Words:
History / theme / inspiration:
I started this army as a small warband in early 2001 and painted a couple of small units, a thane and the cannon, just for fun with no intention of gaming with it. Fast forward a few years, and having got back into painting, I ended up with an injury this summer and decided it would be a good time to try gaming. Had a few games down the events centre and got cracking building up the army. The army is built for thematic / painting / figures inspiration rather than gaming effectiveness....kinda obvious =).
The initial army was inspired by two things: Firstly, a Dwarf army in White Dwarf 133/135 with a half/half blue/white pattern. Secondly, an urge to do something with Dwarfs while I was playing the excellent Blade Of Darkness computer game. The game features a red-bearded Dwarf called Nagflar, whom my first Thane (not shown) was based on, and the runes on the banners are runic symbols that feature in the game. I've tended to keep it more Warhammer-themed as time goes on though. I find Dwarfs have a really good traditional medieval fantasy vibe so building this army satisfies my yearnings that way.
I probably won't add much more to the army before the new army book comes out, I find painting new stuff for it inspires me to keep gaming, and the new book will be a good time to beef things up. I've got some Slayers to add, and I'll get some Miners and the Dwarf Lord because I like the figures. I'm also very tempted by some Ogre mercenaries (bribed by vast quantities of Bugmans of course) as the lack of large models distresses me a bit. Future plans though.
Painting:
I've tried to differentiate between army standard for the troops and a better standard for the characters.
Troops:
Painted in batches of 6, each batch usually takes 8-10 hours from bare metal to varnishing (was a bit quicker but I've got more nit-picky). Painting goes thusly:
1. Undercoat Chaos Black spray. Drybrush with V Skull White.
2. Basecoat metals with Chainmail. Layer one highlight of Mithril Silver. Glaze with a thinned mix of Black Ink, Brown Ink, and V Glaze Medium.
3. Basecoat golds with V Old Gold (thick). Line more prominent details with Brown Ink. Layer one highlight of Mithril Silver. Glaze with a thinned mix of Yellow Ink, Brown Ink, and V Glaze Medium.
4. Basecoat wood with Scorched Brown. Paint on lines of V Skull White. Paint over lines with Vermin Brown.
5. Basecoat leathers with Bestial Brown. Layer on one highlight of V Cobra Leather. Layer on Bubonic Brown on the edges.
6. Basecoat cloth with V Bleached Bone. Second basecoat of Bubonic Brown. Layer V Bleached Bone and V Skull White as highlights.
7. Basecoat flesh with Dark Flesh. Layer on Dwarf Flesh (takes two coats) leaving DF in the gaps. Layer on one highlight of Elf Flesh. Glaze with thinned Chestnut Ink.
8. Basecoat green with Dark Green. Layer on V Sick Green leaving DG in the gaps. Layer on one highlight of V Light Green.
9. Basecoat grey with V Cold Grey. Layer on V Stonewall Grey leaving VCG in the gaps. Layer on three highlights of V Skull White to get a solid colour.
10. Basecoat beards with a dark colour. Carefully overbrush with two successive lighter colours.
11. Paint any minor details.
12. Finish bases etc.
Characters:
Painted singly. Each character usually takes me 8-12 hours.
1. Undercoat Chaos Black spray. Drybrush with V Skull White.
2. Basecoat metals with Boltgun Metal. Layer / blend a coat of Chainmail leaving BGM in the gaps. Blend Black Ink into the recesses. Line joins with Chaos Black. Line / blend edges with a highlight of Mithril Silver. Glaze with a thinned mix of Black Ink, Brown Ink, and V Glaze Medium.
3. Basecoat golds with V Old Gold (two thinner coats). Blend Brown Ink into recesses. Line more prominent details with Brown Ink. Line joins with Chaos Black. Line / blend edges with a highlight of Mithril Silver. Glaze with a thinned mix of Yellow Ink, Brown Ink, and V Glaze Medium.
4. Basecoat wood with Scorched Brown. Paint on lines of V Skull White. Paint over lines with Vermin Brown. Tidy up with Scorched Brown. Highlight lines with Vomit Brown.
5. Basecoat leathers with Bestial Brown. Blend Scorched Brown into recesses. Line internal joins with SB and external joins with Chaos Black. Blend on successive highlights of V Cobra Leather, Bubonic Brown and a final lining of a Bubonic Brown / V Bleached Bone mix.
6. Basecoat cloth with V Bleached Bone. Second basecoat of Bubonic Brown. Shade recesses with V Cobra Leather. Blend on highlights V Bleached Bone and then V Skull White.
7. Basecoat flesh with Dark Flesh. Layer on Terracotta and then Tanned Flesh. Blend on highlights of Dwarf Flesh and then Elf Flesh. Glaze with thinned Chestnut Ink. Final highlight of Elf Flesh.
8. Basecoat green with Dark Green. Blend on successive highlights of V Deep Green, V Sick Green and V Light Green. Line edges with a V Light Green / V Skull White mix.
9. Basecoat grey with V Cold Grey. Blend on successive highlights of V Stonewall Grey and V SG / V Skull White mix. Blend on several highlights of V Skull White to get a solid colour.
10. Basecoat beards with V Cold Grey. Blend thinned Chaos Black into the recesses. Carefully paint on V Stonewall Grey then V Skull White.
11. Tidy up with Chaos Black lining and paint any details.
12. Finish bases etc.
Army list:
The least important bit for me =). Obviously I can't use all 4 characters. This just shows everything I have with typical make-up. The composition and runic items are chosen on the spur of the moment.
Thane - Gromril Armour, Shield, Runes of Fury, Cleaving, Stone - 115
BSB - Gromril Armour, Great Weapon, Rune of Battle - 117
Runepriest - Great Weapon, Rune Of Gromril, Rune of Balance - 153
Engineer - Gromril Armour, Great Weapon, Handgun, Runes of Luck, Stone - 121
16 Warriors 1 - Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield, Full Command - 169
16 Warriors 2 - Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield, Full Command - 169
12 Thunderers - Shield, Full Command - 205
16 Ironbreakers - Full Command, some Runic banner or other - 263
Cannon - Rune of Forging - 135
Stone Thrower - Rune of Fortune or Accuracy - 110
Gyrocopter - 140
Total: 1697
