Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14. New Units

Erny

Erny

Member
I thought I'd post up my work in progress on the empire forces I plan to get finnished for BOYL. I really like the late medieval look of the early citadel figures used to make Empire forces back in the late 80's. not that I don't love the puff and slash of later modles and they do make up my other empire armies. Anyway I've got a lot to paint so I'm experimenting with modern dips, brushed on and I'm actually using up to three different dips on each model. Perhaps that isn't the poi t of them. Anyway I fully intend to base colour, dip and highlight, no more and to begin with I'm onlyn taking tho the dip stage leaving me with usable if rather average figures to finnish if I get time. I remeber something about yellow and puprple for empiure armies from back in the day and thats what I've gone for with my first new unit, eighteen crossbows.
Xbow+1.jpg


I've included a few other colours in the mix to give them a non-uniform look that could pass for either a uniformed unit that has lost coherancy during campaign or even a mercenry unit attempting a bit of a uniform. The figures are almost all old citadel but a few are fro the foundries re-release of citadel mercenaries as shown by the middle two on the front row.

DSCN1751.JPG


I've also used a bunch nof these new casts to do some head swaps to creat variety. Indeed I think I could even mnake a whole unit of these guys look good.

DSCN1755.JPG


Now these look OK from a distance but clearly need lots more work that they will get beither before or after BOYL14 depending on time. These are still very much WIP even if they get used with onlyn their bases being done.

I'll be posting another unit on here soon, though if you really want to know what I'm painting next it's on the blog (yep a little cheeky self promotion).

http://ernysplace.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/empire-crossbows-gettign-ready-for.html

It will be on here in the next few days though.
 
whiskey priest

whiskey priest

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Great looking unit, they'll be brilliant when they are based up. I like your head swaps. The unit makes me think of warhammer armies for some reason. Don't worry about the self promotion, we're all at it! :grin:
 
Aiteal

Aiteal

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Lovely unit.
Those head swaps look great, you can't beat the old-school human faces.
 
Blue in VT

Blue in VT

Moderator
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Looking most excellent! Can't wait to see them all finished up!

Blue
 
barney_leadhead

barney_leadhead

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

A fine body of men in the making and I really like your non-standard but coherant colour scheme :)

I too like the Medieval look of many of the early Citadel figures and for me the fact that they are based on historical information in regards to weapons, armour etc. means that they almost blur the line between the fantasy WH world and our real history.

I once had a decent sized human army which was good mix of early Citadel and Essex. Some are still in my possession but it seems that a good few were lost (sold) along the way. I fancy quite a few of the ex-Citadel Medieval minis now in the Foundry range to replace those fallen.
 
Erny

Erny

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Thanks guys glad you like them. They look nicer in the lead as it were and I'm suitably impressed with how easy it is to achieve a usable gaming standard using dips. I have another unit on the work bench I'll post up perhaps later tonight. Speaking of Essex miniatures I've used some Essex stuff (just) in said unit.
 
Thantsants

Thantsants

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Looking good Erny - I'm currently batch painting many an Orc myself!
 
Erny

Erny

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Thanks Thantsants, hope you cracking on because unit number two is now base coated and shaded. I've gone for dirty browns and greys for the landestrum. Considering how little time I've spent on them I'm quite pleased with how they look at the moment. Some layers are needed but they will have to wait. I have done one head swap for the guy in the red hat, who may or may not end up a champion of lowly standing. There are some weapon swaps too using Essex miniatures weapons, these were available in the late 80's so contemporary to the figures.

Landestrum1.png


Landestrum2.png


I love this chubby guy with the mail coif, now available again from the foundry.

Landestrum3.png


Landestrum4.png


Another unit is already on the table. If you can't wait till it's finished to find out what check out the blog:

http://ernysplace.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/were-anarcho-syndicalist-commune.html
 
theottovonbismark

theottovonbismark

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

These are looking great Erny! I definitely want one of those units of Foundry (ex-Citadel) peasants for some Bretonnian scum :)
 
Asslessman

Asslessman

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

The models look good. The one with a fat belly is definitely a very good sculpt. This speed-painting of yours is very efficient and I can truly see how a little refinement after BOYl could bring them to a very good tabletop standard. I love the sense of variety you managed to give to the whole group.

My brets could use some peasants and foundruy just happens to have them... I probably should keep myself behind a gaming table if I don't want the credit card to burn...
 
Erny

Erny

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Cheers guys, glad you like my scum.

Worth pointing out that most of these figures are not available from foundry, just the old man with the sword and the sack, the chubby chap with the club and dagger and the model I used to convert the guy wearing the red hat. There perhaps isn't quite enough variety with just these three.
 
Citadel Collector

Citadel Collector

Moderator
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Erny, I'm a bit new to this painting lark - any reason why you should choose a dip over say something like a wash with devlan mud?
 
Erny

Erny

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

No reason I guess but I never bought a pot of delvan mud in my life so cannot say how well it works. I know people rave about it. This is my first real foray into modern quick painting methods and for the effort put in I'm very please with the results. I used Vallejo dipping acrylic which isn't especially expensive.
 
theottovonbismark

theottovonbismark

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

It should be noted that Army Painter quickshades are an excellent range of shading inks. They are similar in effect to devlan mud. I use Strong Tone, Dark Tone and Soft Tone all the time myself depending on what I am shading. Typically I will wash an area with this stuff and then go over it with the base colour again to clean it up a little - some people don't bother as it looks pretty good after the wash.
 
Thantsants

Thantsants

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Looking good and I'm sure the +1 saving throw will come in handy.
 
Erny

Erny

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

My main consideration I have to say was making the Knights look right however I also cannot deny that the full 2+ save was an important motivating factor.
 
Erny

Erny

Member
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Updates!

I finally tore myself away from the Templars long enough to finish to speed painting standard a bunch of Helblitzen. A mix of foundry re casts and original citadel, can you tell which is which? Without turning them over I find it difficult for some because I have both citadel and foundry versions of them.
Anyway here is the unit, I've done a few of the layers on top but still make do standard.

h1.JPG


hal1.JPG


hal2.JPG


hal4.JPG


For the next characterful addition to the army that I'm working on chaecfk out the blog:

http://ernysplace.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/helblitzen-halberdiers-for-my-3rd-ed.html
 
Golgfag1

Golgfag1

Moderator
Re: Ernys new old empire; getting ready for BOYL14

Looking good there Enry, looking good 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Paul / Golgfag1
 
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