So Ends the Big Box

Six months ago, give or take, I decided that I wasn't going to do commission work anymore. My work rate was abysmal and I had lost interest in painting armies.  I experimented with farming the rest of the Big Box out to someone else, but he proved at least as immovable as me.

And so today, after nearly five years of painting Ulthwe Eldar, I have returned the remaining contents of the Big Box.  The job started when GW released the large Eldar army box that included the current codex, and it ended today.

That's a lot of Eldar.

Group Ready To Ship

All painted, based and ready for a new home.

Maybe a home where the ambient light isn't so blue....

Skimmers & Banshees

 The big box gets lighter and lighter.  These tanks are ready to roll (so to speak...) and the Banshees are nearly so.

Never underestimate a complicated infantry model's ability to take a long time to paint.

In terms of grav tanks, only a single Falcon remains now to be completed.  There are a few Vipers and a trio of War Walkers, along with a dozen or so miscellaneous infantry models too.

Totally accidental flame hair.

A Wraithlord of Ulthwe

I still need to put the grass on the base to match the other models in the army, but this guy is essentially done.  Whoops, except for some specular reflections on gems I see I missed now.

Next up.... grav tanks!

Wraithlord WIP 2

The camera on my new HTC Evo didn't like me last night.  Anyway, Did a fair bit of work on it last night.  They are impressive looking models, aren't they?  I have heard of Harlequin lists that run 3 Wraithlords, and I can imagine that's an intimidating list.

Thoughts.... should I put the heavy weapon (thinking scatter laser) mounted on left should or on left arm?  If I go arm, then small weapons will be shoulder mounted and sword arm will get a fin-thingy.

That Hex Pattern

Found it!  Main 40k rulebook, page 244.  I'm pretty sure it's really just an artifact of the printing, but I really liked the effect.

Ulthwe Wraithlord WIP 1

I can't quite remember where I saw a photo of a Wraithlord that looked like it had hex shapes on the border of the head, but I really thought that looked cool.  It needs some clean up, but the basic idea should be evident.

The base (not pictured) is made from spackle and sand over a regular monster base, so it should show a good deal of relief.

Okay, that's all I did tonight.  I'm still working on some other models.... Falcon, Wave Serpent, a warlock, etc. but this Wraithlord has my attention right now and I haven't posted pics in ages.

Bikers and Guardians and Swooping Hawks

It's a nice day, so I took some pics outside.  First up, 6 bikers with an attached warlock.  The front two bikers have shuriken cannons.

 Next up, a unit of Guardians with weapon platform, done to match previously painted units of Guardians.

Lastly, eight Swooping Hawks in Ulthwe colors.  I really like how these guys turned out.

Warlock on Jetbike WIP 2

Work continues on the jetbike squad.  The warlock is coming along well.  I've left his spear arm for last, since I've been using it as a touch point.

The only things left on the other bikes are the details on the two with the shuriken cannons.

I Officially Hate Those No-Neck Goons

Yeah, it's true.  As great as Eldar jetbikes are, the models for the riders are the worst model in 40k.  Well, the worst one I've painted.  Maybe the old warbuggy orks are worse.

Despite my dislike for the sculpt, I am determined to mine some vein of cool from them.  I've had limited success so far.

On the left of the pic is the converted warlock.  He's looking pretty good so far.

7 Jetbikes ... 6 Riders

While getting the pieces together to finish this batch of work (7 jetbikes, 10 guardians + platform, 8 swooping hawks) I realize that I am missing a rider for one of the jetbikes.  In addition, one of the jetbikes is missing its flagpole bit off the back.  I search the Big Box but cannot find either.  What to do... what to do...

The answer, of course, is to sacrifice a guardian for his legs / left arm and a warlock for the upper half of his body.  A little milliput here and there, and we have a warlock on jetbike nicely underway.  Plus he'll have a singing spear, so that will add a bit of threat range to him.  S9 against vehicles is pretty scary.  Unlike the rest of the jetbikes in the unit, this fellow's cowling will have a facsimile of the bone armor pattern.  The similar coloration should tie them together nicely.  I've converted two of the jetbikes to have shuriken cannons, so this will make a nice 6 model guardian jetbike unit with an attached warlock on jetbike.

Hmmm.... I wonder how I would do a Farseer on jetbike now.....

6/1/10 WIP

Just a quick one.

Swooping Hawks: done.
10 Guardians: done... need to paint weapon platform.
7 Jetbikes: 1 done, 3 basecoated, 4 unassembled.

WIP, no photo

Swooping Hawks done except for basing.  Yes, they are as tabletop as the look in the pic, but the deadline is the important thing here.  We are ahead of target for these 8 Hawks, the jetbikes and a 10 Guardian squad for the May 1 deadline.

Swooping Hawks WIP

Bone areas on SH's are done.  What remains are eyes, face masks, highlights on black, and red details.  Basing will have to come when they are done. 

Jetbike test model shown too.  Simple scheme, but they should look good on the table.

Eldrad, I Hate To See You Leave

But I like the freehand on your back.

This group is boxed, sealed and ready to go out the door.
Thanks again!

Swooping Hawks test model

I went for a dark Ulthwe centered color scheme.  I think they are fairly menacing like this.  Does this look like how you would like them?  There are 8 total in the big box.

Bonesingers from various craftworlds (complete)

Ulthwe, Saim Hann, Lugganath, Biel Tan, Alaitoc.  Taste the Rainbow.

Seer Council of Ulthwe (complete)

What's black and white and red all over?

Dark Reapers (complete)

6 Dark Reapers.  Two of them would be exarchs from the weapon load-out.

HQ Models (complete)

Prince Yriel, Eldrad, and Maugan Ra