INTRODUCTION
With the sudden rise of Age Of Sigmar in my community I've been eager to start work on an army, but I wasn't really sure where to start. Then it all changed when I saw a Stormcast Eternal painted with stone armour! Funny story I really don't like the concept of the Sigmar Startes but make them animated stone statues and suddenly it's awesome!

THE FIRST STONECAST
I've been experimenting with techniques since the start of this month and this guy is the results of my labour so far...



The moss was created mixing fine turf with matt varnish, I think I may have been a bit heavy handed?
Things I've changed with the next lot of models was to drybrush some areas with a bit of green on the first brown basecoat and use a mix of 50/50 brown and green for the wash.

So what do you think to my completed Stonecast Eternal?

Ooh nice. Moss is looking, certainly not too heavy-handed. In fact, he could use a bit more IMO.

Looks very promising! I want to see more!

I'm in the same boat as you. A cool background and or paint scheme can make or brake an army.
Golden Sigmar Poser boys? Nah, let's paint them irty, weary and bloody?
Default red Khorne guys? Nope. Saw them in World Eaters colour somewhere, now this is where I'm going with them.

Ooh a new Proiteus blog, consider me insta-subbed!

That looks like a very labour intensive paint scheme you've got going but it certainly looks incredible. The moss looks just right to me.

What are your plans for future models? I'd love to see a squad of battle damaged Sigmarines with limbs that have crumbled off with age.

Some veterans made of marble would be great as well. I think Nerdfest had a good tutorial on how to paint good marble but I can't seem to find it atm...

 Hanskrampf wrote:
Looks very promising! I want to see more!

As you wish....

You've actually managed to make the Sigmarines interesting! Awesome stuff!!!

I'm gonna take full credit for that guy missing an arm since I suggested it minutes before you posted the picture

I like the cool blue colour you are using to liven your palette up, it makes them look like they are possessed by some powerful magic.

Very cool looking. I like the broken bits. It really reinforces the stone idea.

Excellent scheme, and idea that is brilliantly executed. The cracks on the shield are stunning. A great concept as well, very Harryhausen. Cannot wait to see more.

Yep, very novel take that's very well realised. Generally, the Stormcast models inspire nothing but disinterest in me, bu these are excellent.

Wow! This makes the Stormcast way better. Great idea.

Well the first Stonecast Eternal Liberator Squad is complete, decided to go with some colourful Autumn themed bases to contrast the dark dull tones of the statues.
Plan to add some leaves later on using a new punch tool I ordered, anyway let us know what you think?

Next up Stonecast Judicators!
.

Ooh those autumn bases work perfectly with them, adds a nice bit of warmth to the models. Keep up t he good work!

As with a lot of people, I'm really not taken by Sigmarines - but that animated statue look is fantastic.

Looking forwards to seeing more.

This is a fantastic idea, well-executed.

Man those are cool!

Stroke of genius too. I couldn't care less about Stormcasts normally, but you're absolutely right that making them statues animated by souls somehow makes them feel right

The bases contrast nicely, and the moss is simply perfect.
Lovely work.

Awesome concept. You've out done yourself with achieving a stone style.

EDC

Currently experimenting with my leaf punch for extra base details. The texture was achieved using water paint and salt.
What do you think?

That leaf punch idea is awesome.

This is really an awesome paint scheme, and the leaves work really nicely imo. Definitely looking forward to seeing more!

Really really cool.

I like this autumn theme! I recently purchased a leaf punch too for adding them to my Autumn City Skeletons.

What did you use for the dead wood?

This is cool. Subbed

 Hanskrampf wrote:
What did you use for the dead wood?

Just parts of some twigs I found in the woods.

Close ups of the Prime and the broken Liberator. It make take over an hour of constant drybrushing on each model but the end result is worth it!

Don't forget to rate the images in my gallery please.

They look fantastic.

Lovely work!

I love the crumbling statue! Really does look like chipped stone. Can't wait to see more

Oooh, very nice! Have you also considered doing some models that are actually climbing out of the soil or walls or whatever?

Those are phenomenally cool. Such a great concept and very well executed.

Some of those have Dark Soulish feeling to them

Subbed. Cool as!

FIRST LORD OF THE STONECAST
I know I said my Judicators would be next but with a Journeyman's League starting this week I needed to get my character done first, so here is my Stonecast Lord Castellant!



What do you think? Not sure if the glowing runes came out okay or what can be done to improve them?

They also played in the first 3 games in a journeyman's league yesterday and of the 3 500pt games; I had a close lost to Nurgle warriors, held the line against a charge from 7 dragon ogres and was massacred by sheer firepower from a Kharadron Overlord force.

So not too bad, next up in the Gryph Hound and Judicators!

What is that orangey stuff on your base, kind of looks like fallen leaves?

He looks great already, but if you want the runes to glow more you should make the deepest recesses even lighter. More contrast.

 STG wrote:
What is that orangey stuff on your base, kind of looks like fallen leaves?

It's autumn scatter (see link), thought with such bland stone colours I'd try and add some colour to contrast it on the bases. Currently experimenting with some fallen painted leaves at the moment.

https://www.modeldisplayproducts.co.uk/basecrafts-company/autumn-scatter

Finished work on the Stonecast Judicator bows last night and I'm eager for some feedback?

That arrow really look like its glowing, looks great

looks awesome dude!

ARCANE ARROWS!
Behold the Stonecast Judicators, with their arcane energy arrows. Very pleased with how the lighting effects came out. I've also added a few autumn leaves to the bases this time.

They look fantastic. This army is really going to knock peoples' socks off.

The bows are spectacular! Can't get over how cool this army is.

Been following from the beginning. They keep getting better and better. I love this concept and the execution of it. Well done sir.

Meet Pebbles, my Stonecast Gryph Hound.

Also be sure to support the Stonecast by rating their photos in my gallery here - https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-10465-55536_AOS%20-%20The%20Stonecast%20Eternals.html

Great job on the OSL, very easy to go overboard and overwhelm the model, but you've kept it to a good level where it's still effective. Well done!

Coolest Stormcast ever. That Gryph-Hound is brilliant too. I don't know what it is, but making them animated statues seems to ground them in reality slightly more, even given that they're still animated statues. They seem less 'fantastical', which is a word I tend to use in a negative context so it's a good thing they're less of it!

The archers and the hound are looking great. To echo Warboss, the OSL is spot on, I'm actually using it as inspiration for what I'm painting at the moment. Loving the glow off the arrows, it looks like they are super hot. I question how effective a bow made of stone would be but I guess that's the beauty of magic!

Incredible stuff. I really like the idea. I absolutely hated the Stormcast models because of the way they looked didn't fit. However you bring it to life with your paint scheme so that they now look like Golems.

Your Stonecasts continue to look great, Proiteus - I'm particularly impressed by the Gryph-hound.

Are you painting a specific army list, or just units that take your fancy?

Next character for my Stonecast is going to be a Heraldor. But an animated stone statue blowing a horn seems odd so I was thinking of replacing it with a large bell that he could ring instead.
The left hand will hold a hammer to hit with however I need to find a suitable sized bell for him to hold like a lantern in the right hand. Aside from Nurgle can anyone recommend a good bell, even from 3rd party stuff?

The Empire Flagellants have decent sized bells you want to check them out. I think the handheld bell mace is the largest one in the kit. Keep up the great work your army is really coming together nicely.

What about the bell from the Death Guard in the upcoming starter?

More cracking stuff, the archers especially.

My 2nd batch of Stonecast Liberators are completed and with that I have 500pts fully painted.



However it's unfortunate timing as with the release of 8th edition 40k I find the grots scratching for my attention. So I'll be taking a break from the Stonecast to work on some brand new Gretchin units.

Very original take on the Stormcast. I quite enjoy the look on these and the OSL is a nice contrast to the stone work.


Good job!

Really good idea! However, how would you do flying units such as Prosecutors, and also Stardrakes?
Please, give us more!

Wonderful idea for these. Those arrows are stunning too

Looking fantastic so far, but to be honest..... I think they need bird poo.

I really think Stormcast look good in the two extremes, the more I see people paint them as such. Go to one extreme and they make great inhuman animated constructs, and the other way with steel platemail and bare heads to make them look more human.

I really like yours, keep up the good work!

Man, those Judicators look fantastic, and I love the broken open effect on the hound. The leaves have given me a respect for punches that I definitely didn't have before.

If you haven't started work on the Heraldor yet, it looks like you could maybe chop his horn at the part that supports the banner, then swing what was the flared part of the horn to a position above the thumb of the same hand so that it looks like he's on the downswing with a bell. If that makes any sense...

Fantastic looking models!

I agree with SJM. At least some of them needs some bird droppings Maybe even an old birds nest on one of the models?

Made an account just to ask OP, how did you get the stones to have such nice brown and green tones? Mind sharing the painting process?

EDIT: Nevermind I somehow missed it in the original post >.<

A CALL TO ARMS!
Well I've returned to my Stonecast Eternals Project at last after finally getting off the 8th edition hype train.
First up is my Stonecast Knight Heraldor conversion; I thought having an animated stone statue blowing a trumpet seemed too odd so decided to go with a bell. Which when hit hard enough can cause structures to collapse, so it's a very good bell lol!

Hell yeah been waiting for more updates on these love the bell idea

Glad to see you back, and a great model to jump back in with.

That bell idea is excellent!

DING! KNIGHT HERALDOR'S DONE!
Getting back into my Stonecast Eternals and here's the first new addition; my Knight Heraldor. Really didn't make sense to give him a horn so I converted him to have a large bell to hit instead!





Was also worried about having a stone base but with all the leaves and grass it's doesn't seem to been an issue!

These jsut get better each time I see them the moss covering is especially neat

Wow...just wow...SO much better than the gold GW ones.

That looks amazing!

THE ART OF THE STONE; PART 1
I've had a lot of requests so here's a quick tutorial on how I paint my Stonecast Eternals

https://www.facebook.com/pg/GrotskullsWorkshop/photos/?tab=album&album_id=402976666824617

Nice tutorial, thanks!

Awesome tutorial will definitely be remembering that for a later opportunity

THE ART OF THE STONE; PART 2

Glow effects have been added to the tutorial.

AUTUMN IS COMING!
My 2nd batch of Stonecast Eternal Judicators!
I'm really enjoying creating the autumn bases, the leaf punch tool from green stuff world is proving to be an invaluable tool.

The Stonecasts continue looking great, dude.

And the tutorial looks good, too - might have to try the stone recipe out on something

Absolutely stunning, this is turning out to be my favourite of your many armies!

Thanks for the tutorial dead helpful, and a great insight into the work that's gone into making these stunning dudes

THE STONECAST ENTER SHADESPIRE!
Well the Stonecast are prepared and ready to enter Shadespire.
At first was worried the leaves didn't work on these bases and I added too much moss, what do you think?



Had to change Steelheart's stupid static pose to a more combat ready stance, and thanks to some donated bits I have vastly improved the original model.

Looking good, and I don't feel the moss is overdone at all. New Steelheart is looking a lot better, definite improvement over the orginal

Great stuff!

Can you go into more detail about the repose on the leader? Where are the arms from?

 Paradigm wrote:
Can you go into more detail about the repose on the leader? Where are the arms from?

Not really much to go into, it's the greatsword and arms from the winged stormcast models. Just needed a Prime head and shoulder pads to complete it.

This is amazing. I had no interest in Sigmarines *at all*, really disliked the massive size of the model. THIS... THIS makes them AWESOME!!!

Wow. I'm seriously reconsidering the models. I absolutely do not need another project to do and collection to start but just wow. I'm usually taken back like this only by excellent terrain, which I suppose is part of the attraction to this as they are "statues".

Very well done. Subbed and following with interest.


Also, forgot this:

 CragHack wrote:
Some of those have Dark Soulish feeling to them

Completely agree.

This project is really cool.

The Shadespire guys are top-notch.

[Coming in hard and fast, work has begun on my Stonecast's heavy hitters!

Awe-inspiring!

AN EARTHSHAKING CHARGE!!!
The ground shakes as the Stonecast Draconian Guard charge into battle!
Experimented with some vines on two of them, eager to hear some feedback on them?

Nice work! Since you're specifically asking for opinions on the vines: in the top pic, the leftmost guard's dracoth, front leg has a vine that doesn't quite follow the movement of the model. Stylistically, they fit right in though.

Wow, they look fabulous! Could we please get a shot of the whole group so far?

The autumn leaves basing is divine. Stunning work.

I've said it before, and I'll no doubt say it again - best interpretation of the Stormcast stuff I've seen.

LEAFING A TUTORIAL HERE!
Just like the stone effect, I get a lot of requests on how I create the bases for my Stonecast, so here's a link to a tutorial on my Facebook page on how to create nice warm Autumn themed bases; https://www.facebook.com/GrotskullsWorkshop/photos/a.468997040222579.1073741852.282222515566700/468997056889244/?type=3&theater

How did I not see this before! I have to echo all the other comments; this blog is fantastic. Awe-inspiring work. I imagine the chipping work that you do on the miniatures prior to painting must take some time? Would love to see you take on a star-drake

LONGSTRIKE REPLACEMENT?
Wasn't too keen on the Longstrike Crossbows so decided to convert two alternatives and I'm eager for feedback on which one is better?
The 1st is converting it to be a little shorter, 2nd is turning it into a rifle weapon.



So far I'm leaning towards the former as I think it would look better with the Stonecast Theme, if this was a standard Stormcast army I would go for the Rifle without a second thought.

My eyes say one on the left is more appealing.

Oh happy day! Love seeing this project updated.

First impression- brilliant work as always.

Vine- agree that it would look better as a contiguous growth

Crossbow- definitely left.

I'd ask what's next but was so happy to see this at the top of my subbed list that I'd rather just look forward to being surprised.

maybe I am the minority, I actually like the right better.

 Skalk Bloodaxe wrote:
I'd ask what's next but was so happy to see this at the top of my subbed list that I'd rather just look forward to being surprised.

Here you go; Since I can't afford a Stardrake at the moment I decided on the next best thing.

This is pure awesome. I had never considered that I would want to paint Stormcast until I saw this blog. Stormcast as magically empowered stone golems is wonderful, and the execution here is just unbelievable. Their weird lizard-dragon mounts, when done in stone colour and texture, look like a sort of "grimdarked" up version of heraldic beasts you'd see in old carvings and statues around europe. Well done!

STONE BLING!
Can't afford a Stonecast StarDrake at the moment so settled for a Dracoth Lord.
What do you think? Thought I'd add some gold detailing to the statue to make him stand out.

That guys is really impressive, Proiteus - great work.

 Proiteus wrote:


INTRODUCTION
With the sudden rise of Age Of Sigmar in my community I've been eager to start work on an army, but I wasn't really sure where to start. Then it all changed when I saw a Stormcast Eternal painted with stone armour! Funny story I really don't like the concept of the Sigmar Startes but make them animated stone statues and suddenly it's awesome!

THE FIRST STONECAST
I've been experimenting with techniques since the start of this month and this guy is the results of my labour so far...



The moss was created mixing fine turf with matt varnish, I think I may have been a bit heavy handed?
Things I've changed with the next lot of models was to drybrush some areas with a bit of green on the first brown basecoat and use a mix of 50/50 brown and green for the wash.

So what do you think to my completed Stonecast Eternal?

I thought storm marines or whatever were lame AF but this version is beyond cool. Really well done.

These are very cool, great idea for them.

Really nice

Add a little bit of a green wash to the gold to make it look tarnished, man. That'd be sweet.

Impressive as always

10 days to finish the Dracoth Lord. Incredible. You style has changed a bit since the first models, really like where you've gone. The vines and leaves are excellent embellishments. I need to stop there before I start sounding like a fanboy.

LONGSTRIKE STONE
Here there are the Stonecast Vanguard-Raptors...



Regarding the Longstrike Crossbow, I decided to go with this design as the other one look to high tech. & as someone pointed out these guys are supposed to be an ancient army.
Had this been a standard Stormcast Army I would have done it that way.

Love that bird. This army has such a great character, it really stands out in my mind as an awesome idea and an amazing execution.

Oh man the birb is cool

These are still my favourite Stormcast

I love these. That lord on dracoth is amazing.

Here's a question: are you going to get the new box? I feel like they would look amazing, but be difficult to pull off with all the movement in the fabric.
I think if you really went to town on tears in the cloth it could work- like on the lord celestar on dracoth.

I would just love to see the new stuff being turned to stone.

THE STONELORDS!
With all the new techniques and changes made to the Stonecast throught the project such as glowing blades and gold detailing on characters I thought it best to redo my Lord Castellant and his dog pebbles, and here they are new and improved...



Alongside the Castellant I also painted up the Lord Relictor, taking advantage of the stone golem theme to make him a literal walking tomb of bad ass!

STONE WIZARDS!
FINALLY 2000PTS COMPLETE!!!

My Stonecast Evocators, looking more mysterious with the hooded Deathwing heads.
I look forward to building another patch of them when I return to this army in a few months.

Magical glowing intensifies!

Love the hoods and chest runes, and actually all the glow looks quite nice and cranked up a notch. Perfect for lightning arcing

- Salvage

The hooded guys look great, but the Lord Relictor is an absolutely stunning bit of work. Really something to be proud of.

Truly fantastic work here, Proiteus.

The effort you've put into this force has paid off in spades. A properly unique army you have here.

Lovely stuff. Great work on the stone.