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Well, after ruining about £12's worth of Scourge wings I've decided to give up on the wraithbone limbed wings idea for my Terradons. Works fine on one type of Scourge bat wings, but it's really tricky to get it looking right on the second set.

So, I thought I'd have to go down a different route to make them look different. Here's the result:



Thought that the Hellion bodies and the occasional head made them look more techno-barbarian plus, it's given me some ideas to make exodite civilians at some point.

I've come up with a different little fluff blurb for them too:



Also, I thought I'd re-make the Heat Lances into something a little closer to an actual lance (again to play up the technologically regressed look). Some individual shots show what they look like







I also had a go at making a test-piece for a Haywire Lance squad, which I'll complete when I've got enough bits

I love the lances, like a lot. Where did you get them? I gotta steal them to make my scourge WYSIWYG

But your stuff is looking amazing! I love the corsair guys with the swords (forgot the name), the guy with the double pistols is awesome!

Awesome stuff as per usual!

~Mikey

More excellent conversions. Top work, sir.

EDC

 gummyofallbears wrote:
I love the lances, like a lot. Where did you get them? I gotta steal them to make my scourge WYSIWYG

But your stuff is looking amazing! I love the corsair guys with the swords (forgot the name), the guy with the double pistols is awesome!

Awesome stuff as per usual!

~Mikey

Thanks dude the lances are Hellion glaives with the blades snipped off, and then the tips of Heat Lances tacked onto the end of them much cheaper way of doing it too as you can pick up T/L Heat Lances from Talos kits (or from bits-selling sites) for a lot cheaper than individual Scourge Heat Lances.

Yeah I'm please with how my Voidstorms turned out. Got a bit of a space-elf pirate ninja look to them especially the crouching chap

I'm also really pleased with you my Corsairs have turned out. Would never have been able to make anything like them without the kickass Wych and Harlequin kits that GW has put out. Someone somewhere needs a pay rise for the level of compatibility between various Eldar kits, and the general beauty of the models themselves

 evildrcheese wrote:
More excellent conversions. Top work, sir.

EDC

Thanks a lot man! Maybe I'll get round to painting some soon

Your modeling work is amazing. Love those winged guys.

Your conversions have done a lot to make Exodites really come alive for me. it's a shame they aren't explore more.

 Nevelon wrote:
Your modeling work is amazing. Love those winged guys.

Thanks man yeah I'm a big fan of the Scourge models. Little top-heavy but really stunning sculpts.

 amazingturtles wrote:
Your conversions have done a lot to make Exodites really come alive for me. it's a shame they aren't explore more.

Thanks a lot dude yeah they've got some real potential if they were expanded on. I'd love to see what some of the more grimdark Blanchesque GW writers could do with them

Still, there not being much official fluff gives me more licence to make up my own!

Well, it feels like it's been ages since I've updated anything but I've finally finished my Terradons

Spent too much time half-painting other things, not finishing them and moving onto something else :S ah well, it all counts





Must get some better lighting. The paint looks a little flat to my eyes and I swear it doesn't look that way in real life. Honest

Those look really cool dude, I think your scheme looks especially striking on these fellas.

The paint does look quite flat, but hey, we all have our own painting styles, I'll trust that they look better irl

Looks good mate.

I find that shooting in daylight is the best solution. In a well-lit room, but not direct sunlight. In the northern hemisphere NE facing is the best bet.

You know why you often see selfies taken inside cars? It's the lighting. People probably don't think about why it works but in short there's daylight (good colour) coming from all round (360 degree windows = well and evenly lit), softened by being indirect (roof blocks the overhead sun, reducing shadows & contrast).

I don't really use much lighting in my photos or when painting because luckily my bedroom has big windows almost completely filling two sides, doesn't face into the sun, with a full-length mirrored wardrobe on another side. I get lots of natural all-round light, very similar to the car scenario.

Looks great, you did an awesome job.

 gummyofallbears wrote:
Those look really cool dude, I think your scheme looks especially striking on these fellas.

The paint does look quite flat, but hey, we all have our own painting styles, I'll trust that they look better irl

Thanks man

I'm hoping that my painting style is 'subdued' rather than 'lazy', but I'm not overly confident of that

 Aryllon wrote:
Looks good mate.

I find that shooting in daylight is the best solution. In a well-lit room, but not direct sunlight. In the northern hemisphere NE facing is the best bet.

You know why you often see selfies taken inside cars? It's the lighting. People probably don't think about why it works but in short there's daylight (good colour) coming from all round (360 degree windows = well and evenly lit), softened by being indirect (roof blocks the overhead sun, reducing shadows & contrast).

I don't really use much lighting in my photos or when painting because luckily my bedroom has big windows almost completely filling two sides, doesn't face into the sun, with a full-length mirrored wardrobe on another side. I get lots of natural all-round light, very similar to the car scenario.

Thanks dude yeah I've noticed that the ones I've taken during the day are much better. Pretty hard to find natural light a 1am though :S or during the winter for that matter. It's already dark by the time I get home :S on the plus side, it does mean that the golden hour in the morning is a bit later, so if I'm really keen I don't have to wake up so early!

Interesting insight about selfies in cars. Doesn't stop it from being moronic to do it while driving (or slightly asinine to take selfies full-stop as far as I'm concerned), but it's useful to know what works and what doesn't

 Inevitable_Faith wrote:
Looks great, you did an awesome job.

Thanks man my next painting project should be just a little bit bigger. Found my Tank Brush

Awesome work on the jump dudes. The wings work great for the theme and make them really eye catching.

EDC

 evildrcheese wrote:
Awesome work on the jump dudes. The wings work great for the theme and make them really eye catching.

EDC

Thanks dude I really like the Scourge wings in general (feathered and bat-wing). Whoever came up with the molds deserves a medal

I like the paint jobs! I wonder if it just looks a bit flat because there's no contrast between the paint and the background. camo is good for combat, less for good pictures that highlight things, i think.

Thanks dude good point about the background. It does a good job of making them look natural, but you're right on the camo front

I'll have to resurrect my kitchen paper light room of course, that could just expose my paintjob as even more lacklustre than these pictures!

Maybe I should dunk them in Nuln Oil. Seems to be the done thing these days

Oh, slightly re-worked the fluff for these guys. Mainly wording changes, but hopefully gets the feel across:

Exodite Terradons
While all exodites are culturally regressed compared to other eldar, some bloodlines have devolved yet further. Using technomancy retained through the generations, they significantly alter their bodies and live more animalistic lives than even their fellow exodites. On leathery wings they soar through the jungle canopies and clifftop crags of the maiden worlds. The increased effort of true powered flight necessitates a carnivorous diet, and kindreds of these winged hunters prey on the animals of their home territories.

However, their hunting grounds are not restricted to just their worlds. Often they strike out through the webway, seeking the challenge of hunting the primitive Mon-Keigh or the brutish Orkead. With haywire lances they cripple the vehicles of their quarry, and with heat lances and poisoned weaponry they cut down their foes, carrying trophies from the hunt back to their lairs.

I'd hoped to have this finished earlier today for some nice light, but washed-out photos will have to do...

..big beastie's done!





Tried a white background, but no different really. Need better light.





Had my first go at blood spatter effects as well. Works nicely, although I'd think it'd need a bit more...



Oh, and took the opportunity for a full army shot (apologies for the potato-cam!). 1402pts!

It all looks great man. That army shot really showcases the sheer scope of the conversion work you've done. Great job.

Thanks dude! I'm getting there

Latest addition, my 'Boneshaper' counts-as Haemonculus. The fluff is that these are the equivalent of Craftworld Bonesingers, but take a rather more 'active' approach to their art...




Tried to make him look like a miniature version of the Sylphs (counts-as Grotesques) for a convincing Grotesquerie



Only issue now is that in comparison my Wyrdlord doesn't look quite so 'wyrd'...might have to revisit him (and maybe the War Wyrd too).

Didn't take me long to have another stab at a Wyrdlord and I'm much happier definitely weirder



Love the new Sylvaneth range loads of great twisted bits to use

Oh, and a couple of little fluff background pieces on these guys:

Cult of Lileath and Morai-Heg
The cult of the maiden and the cult of the crone are two halves of the same equation. Like Farseers their acolytes scry the future, attempting to twist the skeins of fate to avert potential catastrophes befalling their worlds. Each acolyte is part of a matched pair: one a maiden, the other a crone. The younger is the dreamer, who in drug-addled dreams receives visions of potential futures. The older is the hag, who uses their wisdom to interpret these visions.

In times of war, their War Wyrd guardians join the warhosts of the exodites, throwing the formidable psychic might of the eldar at their foes.

War Wyrds
The War Wyrds of the Cult of Morai-Heg double as both the Warlocks and Bonesingers of the exodites. Being masters of melding living tissue with wraithbone, they directly fuse their ghosthelms to their head, providing permanent protection from the winds of the warp.

The eldest of these warrior-psykers are the Wyrdlords, formidable psykers and fearsome warriors whose transformation into wraithbone-skinned ???* is near-complete.

*Help! I need a word here but I can't think of it :S something like 'daemon' or 'fiend' but without the chaos connection, or like 'savage' or 'monster' but without the connotation of being mindless.

Looks fantastic. Love the pose.

Thanks man I can't wait to get it painted (which is usually a good sign!)

Well, these two were an absolute joy to paint. Not often I say that, given my usual attitude towards painting, but I'm really chuffed with how these turned out




I even had a go at blending again on the Wyrdlord's warpflames. I have utmost respect for people who put the effort in to do that on more of their models. I'm happy with the result, but it took me ages!



Also, I love the idea of the Wyrdlord having this gnarled and twisted body, and a terrifying inhuman head...but humanoid hands. Something really creepy about that if you picture it in your head

They look great. Two fine additions to the force.

Absolutely amazing as usual Ynnead!

Thanks a bunch guys!

Decided that I might have to step up my game with my Son of Asuryan after this :S was planning on making another footslogging one anyway so I'll get cracking on that!

Well, I started out painting my Archon but soon discovered that my age old pot of Scorched Brown was rock solid! New pot of Rhinox Hide on the way (I think that's a dark brown? All these newfangled colours...), but I needed something to paint.

So, my Craftworlders got a bit of attention. I did a bit of touch-up to my first Autarch (one of my oldest conversions, and still one of my favourite), giving him gold shoulder pads. Not sure I prefer it TBH, but it'll work better with my planned Dire Avengers in craftworld colours.

Oh, and I also did a bit more experimenting with different lighting setups and backgrounds. Not certain what works best...




I also painted up my Axe/Banshee Mask/Fusion Gun Autarch. Need to do some more work around the Banshee Mask really so this pic neatly avoids showing that also swapped the head on my Uldanorethi Longrifle Farseer (another old favourite) for the one from the Farseer Jetbike kit and it looks much better I love plastic HQs!




This would probably be a good place to shoe-horn in the fluff for my Craftworld

Craftworld Angvellaith (contraction of Angau Vehk Agaith, meaning 'Doom of the Split-Faced Ones', referring the mythical victory over one of the ancient enemies of the eldar).

The early days of craftworld Angvellaith were unremarkable. Leaving sometime during the middle of great exodus from the eldar homeworlds, it set off into the void alongside dozens and dozens of other craftworlds. For centuries, while others fell, the keen foresight of its seers and the might of its warhosts protected its citizens from the very worst the galaxy could offer. However, all skiens of fate appeared to converge in tragedy for the Angvai. Despite all their efforts, the rotting plague-ships of the Death Guard descended upon their home. Through valient effort and harrowing sacrifice, they repelled the foetid tide. However, like Iyanden their population was decimated. Listless and broken, they drifted through the void awaiting their death. However, all was not lost. Through the webway, a cry for help echoed out from the exodites of Selestini, who likewise were under assault from the followers of the Plaguefather. Throwing what was left of their warhosts into the fray, they managed to turn the tide against the children of Nurgle. This marked a turning point in the attitude of the Angvai. No longer were they content to fade away into obscurity.

In a great council, their eldest and wisest seers developed a radical plan. Through the susserus of their innumerable dead within the infinity matrix, the unborn god Ynnead had made his presence known, and the eldar of Angvellaith welcomed him. They struck a dark pact with their Commorite cousins, exchanging safe harbour in realspace and the industrial resources of their craftworld for access to the cloning vats of the Haemonculi. Through arcane and eldritch technomancy, they rebuilt their shattered warhosts.

Their Guardian forces are comprised entirely of cloned conscripts, who follow the unique Path of the Warborn. These forces are thrown against their enemies with no heed to their survival. If a Warborn survives their tour of duty, they are gifted a name and inducted into Craftworld society as a true citizen. If they fall in battle, add one more soul to the chorus.

I also tried the new lighting setup with the Khaine's Ravens which worked well I thought!



New and improved face on Baroness (now called Yzirienn), changing the method for painting eyes. Rather than putting a black dot on a white background, I started with a black background and put two white dots either side of the pupil. Looks much nicer!



Also tried to add a little pizazz to the black armour on my Corsairs. It was painted flat black (before I read that it's best to lighten your blacks slightly so you can shade them properly), so I ran a little Administratum Grey on the upward facing edges and hit it with a coat of gloss and I like it much better!



Here's where the mucking about with lighting comes in. I tried two different places to take photos and I'm torn between which is better. The one above, or this one:



I think I like the lighting of the former, but the background colour and woodwormy floor of the latter.





Back-to-back comparisons:







Which do you think is best?

I think the pictures on the dark baground show the colors of the minis better. The pale minis on a pale setting end up looking washed out. Hard to get a good feel of them.

Drat I was thinking that too, but that's the setup where I have to dig out the big black piece of MDF and clean the top of the cooker! The other one's much simpler

Thanks for the feedback though I'll snap some pics of my exodites on that background too