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How do!

So long promised/threatened, the wheels on a long intended project are now turning.

What am I doing? Well, I’m painting an Eldar army, starting with around 2,000 points (not including Wargear Cards) in 2nd Ed money, using modern models.

The plan is to get that done, then use the latest codex to get the same points in the latest edition.

Colour scheme I’m going with is probably something akin to Altansar. It’s a nice bit of background that, and should be fairly easily achieved using Contrast paints.

A start was made, with a base and zenithal spray on some Guardians, last night.

I will of course be availing myself of the shiny new models coming in the next fortnight or so, but in-keeping with my 2025 Project Ethos, I need to build up “kit credit”, where I don’t buy a unit until I’ve painted a unit.

Anyways, here’s the first pic.

Woo! Eldar! Nice to see a new P&M blog featuring them. Especially cool seeing someone else starting a new Eldar project at the same time I am. Good luck, I shall watch with keen interest.

Good luck, my first army was a 1st edition Eldar army.

Do you have a list in mind? Obviously new codex is new, but IIRC you worked out the 2nd edition one a bit back?

What fun stuff we going to see working across the bench here?

To start with? Any units available to 2nd Ed that I have the rules for.

I may even track down historical Codex Eldars, and build it up through the editions.

Looking forward to seeing this develop!

Please tell me, you are going to use the tiny Avatar... you could make him the right size by adding a really big Tactical Rock to his base.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Please tell me, you are going to use the tiny Avatar... you could make him the right size by adding a really big Tactical Rock to his base.

In 2nd the Avatar was not tiny. That honor goes to the original RT one that was man sized. Still, compared to the modern glow-up, the old one was significantly smaller then what we have today.

All modern models I’m afraid. I’ve the budget, but not the patience, to go hunting down sufficient old models.

And especially right now, with the pre-orders coming tomorrow? The Eldar really benefit from a historically really strong design language, which hasn’t been overly tinkered with in over 30 years.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
All modern models I’m afraid. I’ve the budget, but not the patience, to go hunting down sufficient old models.

And especially right now, with the pre-orders coming tomorrow? The Eldar really benefit from a historically really strong design language, which hasn’t been overly tinkered with in over 30 years.

It will be interesting to see how bad the scale creep is with the new batch. The size might be a little off, but barring that the new should slot in right alongside the old with hardly a blip of notice. Which is very refreshing.

Seems the Phoenix Lords have been embiggened a bit, but personally I’m fairly forgiving when it’s something fancy.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Please tell me, you are going to use the tiny Avatar... you could make him the right size by adding a really big Tactical Rock to his base.

In 2nd the Avatar was not tiny. That honor goes to the original RT one that was man sized. Still, compared to the modern glow-up, the old one was significantly smaller then what we have today.

You are correct, I was thinking of the RT one with the tiny spear.

That would be a fun one to use as a statue on a column...

Quick test piece to try out a scheme.

Model undercoated with Zandri Dust, with a Zenithal of Wraithbone.

Armour is Sigvald Burgundy Contrast. Shuriken Catapult is Incubi Darkness, helmet is Grim Black Speed Paint (Army Painter’s contrast equivalent).

I’ll need to fix the face plate as I blobbed in when painting in the chin. And overall that took about 5 minutes, not including drying time. So I’m happy with the speed, but it needs a bit more.

Shuriken Catapult I’m going to add some light highlights using Lupercal Green, and any gemstones and oddities need picking out.

Did a quick revisit to put some goop on the base, paint in the cable linking the right forearm to the Shuriken Catapult, and a smidge of Incubi Darkness on the base of the grip. The goop alone really helped, as that bright base was wonking out the other colours.

Tomorrow I’ll tidy up that face plate, pick out the ribbon on the left arm, and do the Waystone on the chest. That should break up the colour monotony just enough. Also some metallics on the ammo stick, as I’ve seen others do that and it does add visual interest and definition to the whole model.

Looks good.

One thing to keep in mind with Eldar, is what elements are going to be constant army wide. Aspects have their own schemes, but some things to keep. For example, all the ribbons in my army are red. All soulstones are green. All hoses are dark blue. But keeping things uniform, it helps tie the army together.

I’m probably going to do the Aspect’s weapons in the same colour, or at least feature it somewhere.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Please tell me, you are going to use the tiny Avatar... you could make him the right size by adding a really big Tactical Rock to his base.

In 2nd the Avatar was not tiny. That honor goes to the original RT one that was man sized. Still, compared to the modern glow-up, the old one was significantly smaller then what we have today.

You are correct, I was thinking of the RT one with the tiny spear.

That would be a fun one to use as a statue on a column...

I should dig my version out and get a picture of it. Just a head taller than his peers really.


I do hope to see some awesome Aspect Warriors, including Shining Spears; in this thread!

No Shining Spears in my current collection. Currently building up Kit Credit in my main Hobby Odyssey thread though, so they may yet feature.

If I decide I can be bothered painting white!

Since you are painting the range from old to new, you should be able to pin down the introduction of GW's favorite son of the modern era: The Tactical Rock.

Well, here’s a happy little accident for you.

Boreas Missiles for my Deredeo, but I grabbed Graveyard Grey instead of Grim Black.

And ended up with a recipe for really moody, sombre and speedy Swooping Hawks, well suited to Craftworld Altansar.

Hmmm.

Not all happy with the Heavy Weapon Platform.

I think I’ll repaint the Bright Lance once it’s dried, and do it different.

What a frustrating day. Local shops had minimal Eldar. Bagged the Codex, Data Cards and a box of Fire Dragons in person.

Have web ordered two sets of Warp Spiders, and a set of Swooping Hawks though.

Subbed - looking forward to following your Eldar progress

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
What a frustrating day. Local shops had minimal Eldar. Bagged the Codex, Data Cards and a box of Fire Dragons in person.

Have web ordered two sets of Warp Spiders, and a set of Swooping Hawks though.

I feel your frustration. Last week when I was in the FLGS he told me he’d have 2 of everything, but unless I preordered (I didn’t) it was first come, first served. Which is fair. So I’m outside the door when he flips the sign to open (with one other guy) but it turns out “2 of everything” was not in fact, everything. But just squad boxes of the new aspects and the WQ PL. Who was like 3-4th on my to-get list. But came home with me anyway, along with the new book.

Was hopeing for other options, but to be honest, everything was on my covet list anyway. It was just a mater of priorities.

Looking forward to seeing how your army comes together.

Was chatting with my painter friend last night, as we were at a gig.

I think, going Altansar, I want a more foreboding, almost fantastical look to my Aspects. Not so much bright, striking colours as a moody one.

The grey for the Swooping Hawks is settled on. Fire Dragons I may go the same, for an ashen look, then do almost a pin wash around the armour plates in a fiery origin. No idea if I’ve the patience for that though!

I went with an orange bodysuit and helmet. But black armor plates/hard armor for my dragons. Less candy bright then typical.

My hawks are a blue-grey bodysuit and dark blue armor, yellow helms though.

In general I went with more muted tones then the classic look.

I really like the idea for your fire dragons. That sounds really cool, but I concede that it might get extremely frustrating and fiddly. In my head it looks cool, like smoldering ash.

LOVE seeing the older Eldar models. Can't wait to see this develop