So, I started a project log here shortly before Photobucket broke the internet. I was far too lazy to bother going through it all again...till now.

This project started in April, 2016. I decided that given time and money I would create the Eldar army that I wished I had in the mid-late 90's as a high schooler. I had a palty, small, poorly painted Eldar army at the time. The majority of these models can be see in the Dakka Rescue Shelter thread, because 90% of my infantry figures are metal and are recovered from eBay auctions.

Yderis Craftworld























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Before doing the Eldar I had gotten back into 40K indirectly by doing some retro-styled quasi-Mentor Legion. These were subsequently sold off.













Then, after the Eldar I dallied around with the idea of running some normal Space Marines...and they were then subsequently sold off.





















Oh...and some Space Wolves, subsequently sold off...

And then I had my "eureka!" moment when I realized I wanted to do some proper bad guys...an actual "bad guy" force. I decided I'd so some Chaos Space Marines. Problem? I dislike Chaos Space Marine models. Solution? Horus Heresy plastics...and a slowly evolving narrative which became a proper story for the army...

The Wandering Sons, Space Marine Chapter


Khyrum Saal, Chapter Master of the Wandering Sons.





































This chapter was one of the original chapters sent on the Abyssal crusade after false accusations of heresy, etc. Lost in a warp storm when approaching the Eye of Terror, the Wandering Sons were spared by Nurgle, when - unknown to Khyrum Saal his chief warlord (a brother of his original home world) agreed to a dark pact and a Nurgle cult arose. While Khyrum Saal distrusts the Nurgle worshipers of his now Renegade chapter, his hatred burns for the Imperium which falsely accused his chapter and turned their backs on him. Oktos and Saal's as-yet-unnamed chief warlord lead the darker more vile aspects of the Wandering Sons - many of whom paint their army in white and green, an homage to the once proud Death Guard.


Oktos, Exalted Champion of the Wandering Sons.

Man, a lot of those Rouge Trader/2nd ed era Eldar models are timeless. I have quite a collection myself and vastly preffer 2nd ed aspects than 4th/current ed ones (except for DAs, those are a lot nicer in plastic).

Yep, the original Jes Goodwin Eldar hold up really well (with the exception being most of the Guardians, they're "meh"). There was an intermediate re-sculpt which were notoriously bad.

They were almost immediately abandoned in favor of a further newer sculpt, which basically mirrored the original sculpts. The main offenders from the poor resculpt were some awful Fire Dragons, horrid Striking Scorpions, and questionable Dark Reapers (I have two in my army above). The resculpted Banshees and Hawks were fine.

Love that old school Eldar goodness. Also a big fan of the Scion heads on the Aggressors. Nice look.

 Elbows wrote:
Yep, the original Jes Goodwin Eldar hold up really well (with the exception being most of the Guardians, they're "meh"). There was an intermediate re-sculpt which were notoriously bad.

They were almost immediately abandoned in favor of a further newer sculpt, which basically mirrored the original sculpts. The main offenders from the poor resculpt were some awful Fire Dragons, horrid Striking Scorpions, and questionable Dark Reapers (I have two in my army above). The resculpted Banshees and Hawks were fine.

I quit not long before those horrid resculpts but I saw them a couple of times, they are awfull. From what I gather currently available Hawks are the only ones from this horrid batch. Scorpions were simply comical, Dragons awkward and Reapers simply nothing more exciting than old version. Banshees from that batch have too cartoony look for my taste. Modern Banshees, Reapers and Dragons are nice, but those are exactly those aspects I don't need more of right now. Harlequins are my favourite 4th ed era sculpts, IMHO they're better than modern plastics. Sadly I own only Troupe Master and Shadow Seer in metal.

Terrific Eldar Army, and the other pieces are great too- very much like the armor scheme- tough to bring off white like that, but well done!

Yderis Eldar sounds like an Asuryani movie star! :-D

Loving all this stuff. Painting is superb, and the conversions are great.

Great work throughout, and indeed a pleasure to see nicely paint OG Citadel metal



Also this ^ conversion is shockingly simple and I am so stealing it - thanks

- Salvage

Thanks. I use him as a Daemon Prince - though he's a bit on the small side. He would also work obviously as spawn - the plaguebearer heads slot right onto the Undead bat/ghoul things - I don't remember what they are. And you get a box of three for cheap --- and the other guy is my daemon prince with wings (from the same box).

Seemed too good/easy to pass up though I don't think he'd muster as a prince for tournament games.

He actually matches the bloodletter army I'm working on really well - pale, muscles, brutality - could end up being a trio of heralds or something for me? Or allied spawn

Could you share how you did his skin? I'm not in love with my test 'letters so far, might need to go grimier like these lads.

- Salvage

Wow, a very impressive collection with some very impressive painting.
How did you do the weatehring on your renegade marines?

Boss, I didn't do anything to the skin other than prime white...do all the blood effects (I just mixed various reds with washes, etc.) and dipped him. Army Painter Strong Tone. Since he's the daemon prince of Nurgle for me, I left the dip shiny and didn't mat-finish him.

CREEEEEEEEED,
The weathering on the marines is literally nothing more than sponging dark brown onto the minis haphazardly. When dipped I do tend to leave more dip on the guys so they appear even more grimey -- my Eldar are all dipped as well, but I clean far more dip off of them.

If you can't tell I paint quickly and I use any trick I can to simply get tabletop (or above) standard done, and I keep moving. Coloured primers, sponge effects, dip, grass tufts, etc. I've no painting competition aspirations, but I do not play with unpainted miniatures so I want to plow through stuff as quick as possible.

 Elbows wrote:

CREEEEEEEEED,
The weathering on the marines is literally nothing more than sponging dark brown onto the minis haphazardly. When dipped I do tend to leave more dip on the guys so they appear even more grimey -- my Eldar are all dipped as well, but I clean far more dip off of them.

If you can't tell I paint quickly and I use any trick I can to simply get tabletop (or above) standard done, and I keep moving. Coloured primers, sponge effects, dip, grass tufts, etc. I've no painting competition aspirations, but I do not play with unpainted miniatures so I want to plow through stuff as quick as possible.

Could've fooled me, they look above tabletop in my eyes, but maybe I've just seen too much meh over the years. Thanks for the instruction.

I should clarify, my version of "Tabletop" simply means that I'm not embarrassed to put them on the table, regardless of where I am. I suppose that definition would change immensely depending on the person.

I have buddies who are fantastic painters, could do professional commission stuff, etc...so as long as I don't feel bad putting my stuff on the table along with theirs, I'm happy!

 Elbows wrote:
Boss, I didn't do anything to the skin other than prime white...do all the blood effects (I just mixed various reds with washes, etc.) and dipped him. Army Painter Strong Tone. Since he's the daemon prince of Nurgle for me, I left the dip shiny and didn't mat-finish him.

Really? Wow, I never thought to just go with white + washes, kept doing different layers of grays + washes + more drybrushing. My dipping days are behind me but I make liberal use of AP washes, so I'll see if I can't recreate. Thanks!

- Salvage

Elbows,

You did it as you promised on my log. Great classic Eldar.

Cheers,

CB

Captain, I like to think that combined...our armies would weigh a decent amount (though to be fair metal Eldar never weighed that much...kinda slight models).

I'm sitting on Baharroth, a squad of Swooping Hawks and their Exarch, another squad of Scorpions (or enough to flesh out the other two squads) etc. Not a ton of metal left, but eventually I'll be doing those up as well. The Eldar army will never be "finished". Whenever I stumble upon abused metals I'll scoop them up and recruit them.

I got around to replacing my original Plague Marine squad with a new one - done in my preferred colour scheme.



I'm closing in on being "done" with my Chaos force. A dread, maybe another tank or two, some bikers and one more box of plaguebearers, a few characters...and that should be about it. I believe my basic infantry are more or less done now.

As though an army is ever 'done'. Very nice Plague Marines.

My Eldar are the eternal army...the Chaos are more likely to be done, outside of the occasional "build a tank!" or "build a character!" kind of thing. Basically I have enough models to run most of the things in the codex.

I did consider a Renegades and Heretics side force of Vostroyans to "assist" the Chaos of course. So that would all end up as the same force eventually! That's unlikely anytime soon.

Malavyn Saal, Dark Apothecary of the Wandering Sons (uses Fabius Bile's rules)



Malavyn Saal comes from the same blood caste of Khyrum Saal, the Chapter Master. Malavyn is the wayward apothecary who led the secretive lodge which swore a pact with Nurgle when the Wandering Sons fleet was adrift in a warp storm. He leads the Nurgle worshiping portion of the Renegade chapter and is at odds with Khyrum Saal, so much that they never speak directly to each other. The uneasy truce is questionable at best.

Zoriskos, Leviathan Dreadnought of the Wandering Sons.



And some "glamour shots" I did this evening.

https://myminiaturemischief.blogspot.com/2018/03/40k-glamour-shots-part-1.html

Chaos is looking quite nice.

Thanks, Nevelon.

As my Chaos army draws to a likely close...it's time to return to the proper force on my tables; the Eldar.



Eo'Thel Starborn, Autarch of the Yderis Craftworld.

Some added firepower. While I found a much neater turret option I want...I already had this resin hunk sitting around. Hellforged Scorpius stand-in for the Rhino-Russes.

I've wanted proper 40K MLRSs for so long. Where's the rocket system come from?

It's from Maxmini --- sadly they shipped it incomplete, but I found a way around it. The one I really want is the new Kromlech Scorpio turret. (of course I'll use both for kicks if I get the Kromlech one as well...)

Been a while...haven't been in a position to do much hobbying lately. I've done a few things which I haven't photographed yet, but here is a fella I completed this morning.



My favourite old metal commissar - purchased, stripped and repainted as a gift for a buddy's IG army. Great figure.


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Oh, and a squad of bikers...

Nice stuff..

One more this afternoon, a new spiritseer for my Eldar (moving away from Warlocks since they were nerfed and are garbage by comparison).

Lovely style, I also enjoy the bases!

Thanks Ligoth - the bases are all simple Renedra bases, ranging from 25-40mm, and even the bikers were handcut from Renedra regiment bases (poorly I may add).

Elbows,

Nice Spiritseer.

Where was the head from? Dire Avenger's kit?

I am going to stick with Warlocks...cause that is all the old metals have.

Cheers,

CB

Very cool model, quite a simple scheme very well executed.

Captain,

Not sure, but probably? I don't have any of the modern plastic kits (except Wraithguard), just a few bits from them (left over from buddies). So I picked a random head, the backplume off of a Dire Avenger kit, and a pole-arm off the Dire Avenger kit --- replaced the blade with a bizarre Wraithguard head totem? Just something simple to differentiate between that and a Singing Spear.

Thanks Creed, he was easy to do, and fun.

A few new additions to the Wandering Sons.

Sorcerer on Bike


Rapier, Quad Heavy Bolter


Rapier, Quad Heavy Bolter


Rapier, Conversion Beamer

That's probably one of the most understated librarians I've seen, total opposite of the ostentatious blue space wizards of other chapters. Which is a good thing

Those rapiers have to be alternate models or conversions, right? I dig 'em, again happily functional like the libby.

- Salvage

Hey Boss,

Yes, they are 3rd party models from Kromlech. They're not terribly cheap (yet still half of what FW charges), and they're more modular. You can buy the turret pieces separately (mine are not glued - will probably magnetize them).

I don't have the laser destroyer or plasma options yet, but will pick those up in the future.

And thank you for the compliment, the entire goal of this CSM Renegade Chapter is that it be understated. I've got as little flair as I can manage. While I know it's 40K and I understand the aesthetic I've never enjoyed the silly Chaos look, and the "I'm going to wear lit candles and braziers into battle!" approach of later Space Marine stuff.

I think this is mainly due to me starting in 2nd edition, where things were silly and science fiction, but also far less obsurd than they are now, if that makes sense.

Great looking chapter. Love me some Kromlech kits- best Space Highlanders in the business!

Thanks, I was impressed with the Kromlech stuff I've received.

I was doing some Eldar inventory earlier this evening.



It's been washed out by Dakka a good bit, but you can get the point.

Dang! What a great army shot!

I'll have to do one for my CSM Renegades soon as well.

My current painted and finished Eldar: 5200+ Points.
My current painted and finished CSM Renegades: 4800+ Points.

A fourth Rhino-Russ chassis has rolled off the production queue, and a scratch-build Typhon Siege tank...because why not.

"Why not" indeed- terrific work! I really like the weathered (but not mud sloshed around) look you've achieved with the white color scheme.

Thanks Meer! It was a lot of work for something I imagine will rarely hit the table...lol. My group has agreed to try it at the "sane" price of 500+ points, and the revised 700+ point level --- perhaps even in the middle, see what we think it's really worth. I'd run it for fun often if it was still int he 500 point range.

Nice looking tank.

Sometimes they get weird on how they price things. I have an image of 2d3 marketing guys all with different ideas and one designer all fighting over the draft manuscript, jotting down numbers while they stab each other with pens.

Yeah, who friggin' knows. Luckily, since I don't do tournaments it has little effect on me, and we'll simply figure out where think it is appropriately costed!

Some new Scorpius turrets for my Rhino-Russ chassis (two turrets). Replacing the boxy launcher I'm currently using.









Two of these will allow me to run a slightly nastier list if a buddy wants a challenge, or for a big silly Apocalypse game. 12D3 shots indirect fire is pretty decent.

Been in a hobby funk lately, but here are the latest additions...

Just had a run through your blog, some really great stuff here! Really digging your most recent Warp Spider Exarch, super cool model and the paint job is excellent.

I'm glad you think so! I hate the model, and really hate the paintjob I did on it, lol. Made the mistake of painting both him and Baharroth when I wasn't in a mood to paint. However, I'm sure as hell not motivated to re-do them, so it'll have to do for now!

I really like the brown exarch spider too, dig the pop of the blades against the muted scheme. Dread is impressively utilitarian / brutal, as fits the army. But yea, poor Barry could use a little oomph I feel. That magenta? deep red is neat even if it feels like it needs more ... UPDATE: I zoomed in on the photo, looks much better with closer inspection

- Salvage

I really like that dread. Something about the eye is just really good.

 Elbows wrote:
Been in a hobby funk lately, but here are the latest additions...

Elbows,

If this is how you paint while in a funk then you have nothing to worry about.

Great stuff.

Cheers,

CB

 CREEEEEEEEED wrote:
I really like that dread. Something about the eye is just really good.

Thanks, Creed - it's a bit ripped off an old VOTOMS model I had. I found you can order dreadnought bodies and legs for about $14 on eBay...but you need your own arms and front plates/etc. I just made one up out of plasticard and stuck the lens package on there. I had some spare arm bits from eBay and the Venerable Dreadnought kit...so a quick and dirt cheap second Helbrute.

And. Cap'n...thanks. I'm sure you know the feeling when you complete a miniature and it just doesn't inspire you. These are two of those figures. I always have either a "yay!" or a "meh" when I finish a model. Normally "yay". They're not so bad I'll strip them anytime soon...but...ya know. Not my favourite minis in my case now.

And while not terribly related to this thread...my latest terrain feature...fences!

They are indeed excellent fences.

The assembled Wandering Sons after doing some inventory:

 Elbows wrote:
I'm glad you think so! I hate the model, and really hate the paintjob I did on it, lol. Made the mistake of painting both him and Baharroth when I wasn't in a mood to paint. However, I'm sure as hell not motivated to re-do them, so it'll have to do for now!

Seems we disagree on which models look good or not a lot! If I could paint like you can when you say you're not in the mood I'd be very happy!

Great looking army shot of your Wandering Sons too.

I really like your Chaos army, great paint scheme and awesome conversions!

Thanks, Commander and Horde.

I prefer my Eldar, but enjoy the ease of making kits for the Space Marines (and their much larger range of supported units, particularly via Forgeworld Index). I've reached the bottom of the barrel with the Eldar - not many more units exist that I don't have or own.

A couple left over units are so bad, I can't justify spending money on them (support weapons, wraithknights, etc.). The Forgeworld offerings are scant, and I don't trust resin much - worse in Eldar waifish vehicles).

I do enjoy the vast difference in the armies though...crisp and relatively clean Eldar vs. rusty and grimey Chaos Renegades. Some more stuff is on the way, but in no rush at the moment.

Very nice army shot of the Wandering Sons there Elbows. A unified colour scheme for the troops and tanks (with exceptions for cultists and demons).

Cheers,

CB

A new Dark Apostle for the Wandering Sons to replace the previous one (who is, oddly, not in a Death Guard homage paint scheme, and thus will be demoted to something else)

Cool model and a great paintjob, really like the weathering on him. How did you do it?

Very nice Elbows.

Cheers,

CB

I don't actually do any weathering other than some sponge-chipping with a dark brown, and then a Strong Tone Army Painter dip. Gives a good grunge factor on the Chaos.

Looks clean and simple, well done. What you doing next?

Up next is a pair of Hornets, some more Wraithguard...and a few more Eldar goodies I can't take pics of just yet.

These purple and white models never photograph well (I need a coloured background or something).

I think the photographs look great, but then again in my experience it's a lot easier to be critical of your own stuff. It's a very cool colour scheme you've got going there, I feel purple is rather underutilised in a lot of 40k painting, don't see too much of it out there. The Hornets are a really cool model too. Good job!

Those hornets look great, and the colors work well. I'm actually quite envious of your hornets. They're a sleek model that fits the Eldar aesthetic and playstyle, and you brought them out well in purple.

Thanks, I dig the Hornets, at least more than the Vypers they're replacing. I clipped and left off the winglets...as I don't like them that much. I'll try to get some picture in game where they probably look better.


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Some hobby-desk pictures which came out much better:

Nice, sleek, and clean. Good job!

Very nice Eldar there Elbows.

Cheers,

CB

Captain, if you ever find yourself down in the US around South Carolina, let me know and we'll have a huge old school Eldar game vs. all-comers.

I'm racing to the end of the year...

Urghouls


Spindle Drones


Chaos Beastmen


Tractor A


Tractor B


Rogue Trader


Two more Falcons

Some great looking Blackstone Fortress models there Elbows, the red eyes on the spindle drones give me a 2001 vibe from them.

Lovely pair of Falcons too, I like the switch of colours you've done on these in comparison to your hornets, excellent work!

Some great stuff here overall.

I really like your leviathan dreadnought head choice, reminds me of the big round lenses of a plague doctor mask or something.

I also like the vertical face markings on your helmet-less terminator.

Thanks, the helmet-less Terminator is Quthon Vale, my Chaos Lord - he takes either his Terminator armour, or his jump pack/power armour depending on the game - same dude. That's also why he awkwardly has a stormbolter slapped on the outside of a fist (since his jump pack model is left handed!)

I love the schemes on the Eldar vehicles. Very bold.

Wow Elbows, that is quite the push for the end of the year.

Cheers,

CB

My buddy just sent me a Christmas present too...so now I'm debating if I try for that as well...hmmm...

Goal: 100 minis this year (a low number compared to previous years)

Current: 96 minis

Failed my goal last year by two minis...only 98 finished. This year is off to an equally slow start.

The Imperial Navigator


Two Dark Eldar Khymarae I'll be using as Chaos Spawns (personal pets of Malavyn Saal, Chief Apothecary of the Wandering Sons)

I love the Khymarae sculpts, and they do in fact look great in green Props on shoehorning them into your crew.

Navigator looks very nice as well, appreciate the subdued pallet.

Elbows,

Well a good start in the painting level. You have to think of that. Quality of quantity sometimes.

Cheers,

CB

More desperate progress. Not super happy with them, but some Chaos Veterans and an Imperial Missionary (for story purposes and a future project)

A Chaos Lord for directing artillery and siege weapons, Tropios Juut.

Really like the Missionary Elbows.

Cheers,

CB

Yeah, he's a great model. Didn't turn out super well paint-wise, but "good enough" which is fine with me. He really embodies how you'd envision someone in that role in the 40K universe.

Some more progress...

Cultists (Blackstone Fortress Traitor Guard)


Chaos Sorcerer in Terminator armour (old school Inquisitor metal)


And unrelated...some Shadespire Skeletons (for use with normal dungeon crawl stuff - lovely minis)

Nice minis, especially the old inquisitor, I have one and it doesn't look that good in metal but you've made it work well.

Nice work Elbows, thank you for sharing.

Cheers,

CB

Thanks guys. Yes, the inquisitor is a bit of a rough mini (just age and the sculpt is a little chunky). I don't have the skill to make it really shine. I have some seen some great ones. This one will do, or will find his way onto eBay to recoup the cheap money I paid for him.

That is Heresy! He is no chaos follower!