Adding non GW miniatures to my Vampire Counts army

Last two weeks I've been painting non GW miniatures for a change. I've used three different companies for the first time. I'm pretty happy with the quality of their stuff and I'm going to use them again.

I've had my eye on Scibor Miniatures Necromancer for quite some time and finally decided to get it and paint it. He will be designated to the Todtstein Shock Troops. Model is cast in resin, great quality, no air bubbles, minor flesh to be cleaned. I had to place him on 50mm base, so he is taking four spaces in the unit, which is kind a logical since there are three zombies emerging from the ground around him. I had to put in extra effort on the base, to make the zombies look as though they are raising from the ground.

I'm pleased with the end result. Only thing I'm not 100% sure about is the green glow. Think maybe it would look better if I made it a bit more subtle.

Another company I've been wanting to try out for years is the Reaper Miniatures. I've always been a huge fan of their Bone Horror model, so I ordered it together with some Arachno Assassins. These are metal miniatures, although the company has many ranges, some in plastic, some in metal. I decided to paint one of the Assassins first. The design is really simple but effective! Since the model is 90% bone, you can paint it really fast.

Far back in the past, while browsing the internet, I stumbled upon Mournful Knights by Gamezone Miniatures. My mind was blown! They looked so menacing, vicious and packed with action. The whole unit looked as if in the glorious charge. I thought these models are really ahead of it's time. And still, even today I consider them to be one of the best cavalry models out there. That being said, there is some work required prior painting. The miniatures are metal and there are some gaps that needed to be filled with modeling putty. Another thing thing I noticed while painting my first knight is that sometimes it is hard to differentiate what is what on the model. All in all I really like the final result and can't wait to add more knights to the unit!

Corpse Cart

After some struggling, I finally managed to take decent photos of my finished Corpse Cart. I'm quite happy with the result. Usually I always paint the skin of my vampires and necromancers in pale colors, but this time  I decided to paint necromancer's skin in more lively colors (he is human after all :) ) to make him stand out more from the corpses and zombies.

As much as I enjoyed painting this model, I don't want to do another one. I think it would be a drag to go through the same long process again. However I do plan to add another Corpse Cart to my army but I am going to use Chariot of the Harvester model from Gamezone Miniatures. I think it's a really cool model and will complement my army nicely.

Chariot of the Harvester

OK, so here are the photos of the finished model. Now we need to give this necromancer a name and a background story. :)

Kehler Arhnoth

It all begun with a dream. Kehler dreamt of the whole world dead, with him as the sole living creature commanding vast legions of the undead. Kain Von Todtstein made the dream closer to reality by recruiting him in the ranks of the "New Night Order" and gaining him access to the powerful books of necromancy. Soon enough, this infamous and deranged dark wizard became known for his obscure, forbidden rituals which he performed in order to bring the departed back to life. However he didn’t limit his doings to the dead, but also the living! His sick and perverted interest in human body and a lifelong goal to achieve immortality led him to numerous and unscrupulous experiments. Even children were used in obscene experiments and unholy rites. His loyal gang of grave robbers begun a spree of kidnappings and murders throughout the land in order to provide new subjects for their master. They ravaged and pillaged, no ground was deemed holy and no deed evil enough. After numerous gruesome and inhumane experiments in pursuit of immortality, Kehler became a pale, hunched and soulless figure, with a cold stare, looking as though the life itself was sucked out of him. Kain Von Todtstein knew very well that Kehler’s talent and cruelty will be more than welcome in the service of "The Nameless One".  

For the Kehler character I decided to use a standard Games Workshop Necromancer. I always liked the model for it's expressive, old face and ragged look. His stuff made of a stick and collection of skulls fits perfectly with the rest of the character. I decided to paint him in earthy tones, black and browns, to make him look even more like a rough-looking man wearing ragged clothes. Also, this way the bright green glow from his skull is in contrast with the rest of the model and becomes a focal point. I also think that the model is very photogenic. :)