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So, last week I got to sit in on some friends playing Warhammer Fantasy. One of whom had an intriguing looking VC army, so I browsed through his codex and two things stood out. One the army had a huge variety of different units and two most of the models in the range are fugly! Now being a Gothic Horror fanboy, I wanted...nay needed to model a VC army. But what to do about though ugly models.... Fortunately, through the power of the internet I came across a number of possible substitutes.

The Army List


Lords


Vlad Von Carstein:

Not sure about this model. I've also been thinking of going with a Counts as Death Knight as my lord. Something along the lines of Dragonlance's Lord Soth - "The Knight of the Black Rose", perhaps.



Vampire Countess:

This is by far the best female vampire mini I've seen, the anatomy is realistic and accurate, and the detail perfect. She's already on order.







Zombie Dragons:

I've wanted this mini from the moment I saw it, now I have the perfect excuse to pick one up.



Heroes


Isabella Von Carstein:

Well she got a goblet and a punch bowl that could easily be converted to the blood of virgins! I also like the wings, just a slight modification to add some fangs. I'll have to check on the scale of model though. It's a Reaper Sophie model I believe.



Update 11/15/2009: The online store was wrong she's 25mm, sweet.


Vampire:





Update 11/15/2009: This turned out to be a 54mm model, so she's out too.


Necromancer:

I'm not sure what line this is from, so I may simply sculpt my own version.



Wight King:

This one is a Coolminiornot limited edition mini. converted him up to holding a banner and done.



Core

Zombies:

What is it with GW horror models, these seem to be intentionally comical, and not even remotely scary. I would prefer my zombies look like they belong in an army, that is to say they should be wearing armor and equipped with weapons. I'll be sculpting my own but I intend to base them heavily of Rackham's brilliant Armored Zombies, and the Zombies in the God of War games.






Skeletons:

I really love the skeletons. In fact their my favorite undead, ever since I saw the Seven Voyages of Sinbad...ah memories. Anyway the current GW models are superb. I will however be modding those ridiculous looking helmets though.



The GW skeletons will be supplemented with Rackham's Mad Puppets, and some of these:



Yes, I know that skeletons have no ranged weapons but the rule of cool wins out here. I'll work some spears of swords in therer somewhere.

Ghouls:

I really like the heads and legs of the official models, so I'll probably just mod them to walk more upright like I did for my Daemon army. They'll be getting weapons, etc.


Dire Wolves:

These were a no brainier really Gamezone Zombie Wolves, for the win.




Bat Swarm:

This swarm from Reaper is far scarier that the GW offering and you can purchase the bat individually as well, to spruce up other VC models.



Corpse Cart:

Still working on this one.



Special


Grave Guard:

I don't intend to by these minis as there rare and kinda ugly. Rather, I intend to use them as inspiration for skeleton conversions. Mostly the armor and skirt intrigue me. Oh, and no bat-winged helmets.



Black Knights:

I'll admit that I blatantly stole this idea. I managed to purchase a set of Rackham's Scavenger of Ancheon mini's. I only want them for the mounts, which are some of the best undead horses ever. The mini's in the pictures use Dark Elf torso's and legs, and skeleton bits. I'll be using Tomb king horseman legs and Grave Guard bodies.





Mine of course will be losing the bat-winged helmets.


Fell Bats:

These are the soon to be released Vampire models from Rackham. Great counts as Fell bats in my opinion. Let's hope the come out be fore Rackham folds up.





Spirit Host:

No, clue yet.



Rare



Black Coach:

I'll probably scratch build this, and use steed for the Scavengers of Acheon.

Varghulf:

I actually like the official model in this case.

Wraiths:

These Lord of the Ring's Wraiths are kinda nice.



But honestly I'm tempted to just sculpt my own and make them similar to Ring Wraiths, instead.


Banshee:

I already have this reaper mini, but she's far to sweet looking, so maybe I'll be sculpt a more skull-like screaming face.



Not sure about this one as she's not that scary looking at all, even after modifications.

Blood Knights:

I'm going with Gamezone for these, with modifications. Especially the one with the jester head hat-thing, he's getting a head swap at minimum.














So, those are my model choices so far. Subject to change of course the goal here is to use readily availbe substitute models when available and to sculpt models that have no viable substitute in plastic. Those I sculpt maybe 5 variants of and cast the the rest in resin.

Comments and insights are greatly appreciated.

They look great , where are the knight and grave guards from?

The Grave Guard are Rackham "Black Paladins" with their horns removed. The Black Knights are a conversion using Rackham "Scavengers of Acheon" and bits from GW's Dark Elf Cold Ones Riders and Grave Guard bits.

The Blood Knights are amazing o_o

any link to where they can be purchased?

This is a thread I can get behind. I love to see someone really think out an army and make it unique. You're well on your way to having a sharp army, looking forward to updates!

/those vampires from Rackham...they out soon? I can see several uses for those models...

LunaHound wrote:The Blood Knights are amazing o_o

any link to where they can be purchased?

Yes, the cheapest online store I've found is this one: http://www.frpgames.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=1772

The individual models are $12.82 each, so $64.10 for all five, compared to the GW's $90 for five far less pretty models. Even with a 20% online discount on the GW models, you come out ahead.


Oh and those blacknight were converted using these. There Rackham's Scavengers of Ancheon. They're pretty rare now, but just yesterday I saw a two online stores that had them for $30-40 for a set of three. I picked up a set on ebay just today.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

AgeOfEgos wrote:This is a thread I can get behind. I love to see someone really think out an army and make it unique. You're well on your way to having a sharp army, looking forward to updates!

/those vampires from Rackham...they out soon? I can see several uses for those models...

The Model are called: Wamphyrs. A unit box of all five models is scheduled for release in December, and will retail for $25.00. You can pre-order now, a couple of stores are selling the boxes for $20.00 each.


Oh and I just found this cute little necromancer:

Really looking like a cool project. I like your use of alternate miniatures and would agree that a lot of the new GW VC sculpts are rather ugly. Can't wait to see what all you come up with.

On a side note might I suggest the Vampire harvester chariot as a stand in Corpse cart...

Really looking forward to seeing this army take shape!

Any particular theme you're going for? Or just the army of Vlad Von Carstiene?

Oh, and those Blood nights look fantastic- far superior to the GW ones.

Oh Sersi, I have never played fantasy, and I dont know how much more time or money I can devote to this hobby, but vamp counts is definetly what I would play, ever since I saw this 2001 white dwarf with this fuilly converted army. Gl man, big project...

Wow, these models are way better than the GW ones. I may have to take a look at them when I get round to updating my VC army.

Great finds.

Hi Guys!


Deff Dread red Edition:

It's a real shame about the mini range that GW put out. After reading the VC handbook I was hooked on the background which is incredibly Gothic. It reminded me of RPG'ing Ravenloft some 20 odd years ago...man how time fly's.

I really like that Chariot, the only problem I see is that you need more than one corpse cart in the army. So, it might just be easier to scratch build them.


CadianXV

I'm not sure about the theme yet. Other, than having a more serious horror theme, no humorous models will be included here.


gameandwatch

I've never played fantasy either, the rules are a little odd. But allot of the older gamers at my LGS and at work are into it and have these huge lovingly converted armies. It's the influence of WOW, I'm sure. I'm doing this mostly for the modeling and painting aspects; but I will be getting my noob game on.


SilverMK2

There are some really nice alternate model available. My only regret is that I did not by a truck load of Rackham models when they first came out.



On a more positive note I bought two video tutorials made by the lead sculptor of the Rackham line. Very illuminating, so I've embarked on sculpting my first 32mm miniatures in Super Sculpey - Firm. Its great stuff, I've use it before on much larger projects but never considered using it for anything so small. The main selling point of course it that the clay doesn't harden until you bake it.

So, today I'm starting with a series 32 mm scale heads for practice. Depending on the results I might cast and sell these later as marine heads.

Anyhow, I'll be posting on that later.



Cheers!

What about these Wraiths? Or the upcoming Necromancer mounted on some undead beast?

Sersi wrote:

Automatically Appended Next Post:

AgeOfEgos wrote:This is a thread I can get behind. I love to see someone really think out an army and make it unique. You're well on your way to having a sharp army, looking forward to updates!

/those vampires from Rackham...they out soon? I can see several uses for those models...

The Model are called: Wamphyrs. A unit box of all five models is scheduled for release in December, and will retail for $25.00. You can pre-order now, a couple of stores are selling the boxes for $20.00 each.

Thanks for the info. Regarding Spirit Host, as you don't seem to have a model nailed down for that yet, you might try Flagellants. Before I sold my Counts army I used Flagellants painted up like this (although these are not mine, just a similar idea);

http://coolminiornot.com/148971


Also, have you thought out bases yet? Micro Art Studios makes some great Graveyard bases;

Well I got my Scavenger of Ancheon models to abuse in my workshop....Muhahaaaa! I also ordered the 5x Mournful Knights and 6x Zombie Wolves from Gamezone.

I need to order some GW skeletons & Ghouls though but, but have no Idea how many is enough.


Anyway more later!

This was such an awesome thread! I also have a strange obsession with Vamps but the only thing keeping me from collecting VCs are the models. You are so right how terrible they are. However you along with some of the contributors to the thread have really found superb models. I hope my wallet can handle this future spending binge!

I think you should convert a squad of zombies to be the "Thriller" zombies, and have the head zombie be in a red jumpsuit

LordBoJangles wrote:I think you should convert a squad of zombies to be the "Thriller" zombies, and have the head zombie be in a red jumpsuit

I don't think the world could take another VC army with a unit of Thriller zombies. Plus, given the quality of the models here, I really don't think they would fit in

The Necromancer that you are looking for with the stave and ragged cloack is 'Mercenaries Charon and Thirty Coins' (whatever the hell one of those is!) from Helldorado.
Maestrom link: http://www.maelstromgames.co.uk/index.php?act=pro&pre=ade_hld_mcn_ind_601_000
I've no idea of scale but knew i'd seen it somewhere before!

It's a nice format making the black/white pics of the models that you intend to use.
It gives a far better idea of coherencey and really helps to highlight that there is more to life than GW!
Good luck with this, it's looking like it is going to be awesome!!!

I came up with a few more model choices:

Wraiths:







Necromancers:




Grave Guard:



These come in a 8 man box set for $30.


I don't know but the sure are cool!



I'm so tempted to take this model as a counts as Vampire Lord. But it could serve a Carin Wraith as well.



I have no Idea...still cool though.





And lastly some sweet...sweet zombie heads from Enigma Miniatures, 30 mm scale, white metal, $7.







Opinions please?

Not so keen on the wraiths or grave guard, but the rest look fantastic.

Where abouts is that skeletal dragon from?

The dragon is from Reaper, cost about $40.

Just placed some of those Gamezone models on my wish list for Christmas.

May have to find myself a fantasy player to game against just so I can get an excuse to play my VC army

Okay, I just picked this girl up from the Avatars of War Line:



She's by the same artist as this girl, but from the Mad Puppet Line:



I have both and they are quite complementary, huh? They look like sisters actually.

I also bought the Lich King:



Also by same artist Edgar Ramos.


So, the army should look rather cohesive style wise.

Hey wheres that purple necromancer mini from?

hrmm I like the shield from the grave gaurd though depending on a theme your shooting for it may not work. We know you are going gothic and I fully agree with you about having the warriors look like they are part of an army, but in the gothic feel are you being specific or general? Also I think just for humor sense if you have a "VON HELLSING" esk vampire it would be funny, and a cool model. I smell another great thread comming on from you.

I've found a reseller of the Gamezone models on ebay selling them for £9.99 with 99p postage.

Though I don't know how many they have in stock though. Win.

Sirius42 wrote:Hey wheres that purple necromancer mini from?

She's a Rackham resin mini. It'll be out next month along with those sweet, plastic winged vampires.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Empchild wrote:hrmm I like the shield from the grave gaurd though depending on a theme your shooting for it may not work. We know you are going gothic and I fully agree with you about having the warriors look like they are part of an army, but in the gothic feel are you being specific or general? Also I think just for humor sense if you have a "VON HELLSING" esk vampire it would be funny, and a cool model. I smell another great thread comming on from you.

Wait...do you mean that horrid Hugh Jackman movie?!!? Well at least the vampire brides were hot. I'm definitely going gothic. I want a coahman like in Bram Strokers Dracula. But I picking and chosing my sources. The current influneces are: Bram Strokers Dracula, Vampire Hunter D, and Castlevania...baby!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

SilverMK2 wrote:I've found a reseller of the Gamezone models on ebay selling them for £9.99 with 99p postage.

Though I don't know how many they have in stock though. Win.

Want to talk about sick? I got all 5 Mournful Knights for $58.00 including shipping. That's crazy the GW versions cost $90.00 without shipping. Crazy man!!

Man, I just can't seem to catch a break lately.

So, I finally started to receive some of the minis for the army, and damned if the female model with the chalice I was going to use for Isabelle isn't 54mm. I mean I called and asked, prior to ordering what the scale was. Now I have no alternate to sub for the model.



I guess I could use this but:



But it doesn't really fit.



Then I found these sweet bat swarms:



You get three swarms in the box and they come on a clear flying base!

Their from Mirliton Minatures - Fantasy Line - Blood Thirsty Bats

Found here: Link

Their only about $8, but you have to have a minimum order of $23, not including shipping. I can't imagine needing 9 bases worth of bats, so maybe a couple of board members could place a group order or something.



A well enough griping, updates to follow.

Hmmm... I may just use these for my zombies.



First they're dead, are armed and are wearing archaic scale armor. They also $10 cheaper than zombies for the same number of models! :| Really what's not to like? Anybody know how they scale next to skeletons?



So, I finally got my shipment of Unit Boxes and bits orders. I cracked open the Army of the dead box. These are so nice, especially considering that there basically a single piece of plastic.



Comparison:



Here's a comparison with a TK Horseman Skeleton. Despite the TK skellie being much larger than the current VC skellies it doesn't seem to be noticeably out of scale. My AOW Vampiress does tower over them, and all of the other VC core troops though.


Carin Wraith: (5x + Banshee)

I decided how I'll be doing my Wraiths. I'm ripping off these conversions:





Super simple really: I bits ordered three Corpse Cart Driver's and two Empire wizards bodies; along with scythes from the Zombie box, and a few Skeleton heads. I fill and/or carve holes into the robes of the models, so that they will not all be identical.


Black Knights: (15x)

I finally decided to base my Black Knights, will be based off theses. Well at least the riders will anyway.





I bits ordered some TK horseman bodies. I really like the exposed bone legs; but I be sculpting on some shin armor. The upper body's will be Grave Guard. The heads and spears will come from the skeleton box. They'll also get Aves capes and Arabian-style sculpted scarves.

Their Skeletal steeds are from the "Scavengers of Ancheon" steeds, with sculpted barding similar to the Gamezone Mournful Knights.


Well here's some progress:


Zombies:

Looks like my zombie idea will work out, here's a comparison with a Grave Guard and a partially converted Black Knight:



I like the archaic looking armor on these guys, once I clip the bat-wings and horns off the Grave Guard and Skeletons, they should look rather uniform. The models are actually on the same scale if you measure them by head heights. Fair superior to the cartoony and disproportionate WHF zombies. I will probably convert up a few with Grave Guard and Skeletons bits, arms & heads, etc. I'll also be poaching some other LOTR troops to add to the mix as zombies. I'm going with 80 zombies to start.

Painting:

I plan on painting the dead with a gray-ish dead flesh color for the skin, and various muted earth tones for the clothing.



Black Knights and Blood Knights:


Barding:

A couple of changes: I'll be making the barding for the Black Knight steeds from metal foil, and Aves sculpt, with rotted and tattered cloth similar to the Blood Knight mounts seen above.

Riders:



I thought the Tomb King horseman legs would be to robust looking, but their not to far out of scale. He does look a bit naked. How about some sculpted shin armor, a mail skirt, or cloaks.

Basing:

I'm thinking about going with muddy bases, for cavalry models their would be splashing water effects, and splattered mud of the steeds legs. etc.

Painting:

Both the Black and Blood Knights will an airbrushed layer of rust, before masking with hair spray and salt to created chipped paint and rust on their armor.

Black Coach:

Still working out the design for this, it will be scratch-built. I may use one of the coffins available from Reaper; but the occupant will be a topless female vampire...because I can!

Design:

It will be incorporating winged skeletons similar to those seen here.



Nightmares:

Another Idea I've had is to get a 4 Marauder horses and replace their heads with skulls from the Tomb kings Horsemen.

More Later!