Black Coach WIP pt.1

Recently I acquired one of iconic Vampire Counts models (at least for me), the classic Black Coach. After stripping the paint from the old model I started to work on the main body. I decided that my coach will be predominantly made of wood, so I carved the wood grain in the plain surfaces. I am very happy with the look so far. I'm thinking about replacing the two torches that come on the roof with two lanterns, but I haven't decided yet. Also I think I might replace the skeletal steeds with black horses in black cloth. I think the coach will look darker and more sinister that way. We'll see. :)

Project Log: Altburg - Townhouse II, Part 3

Moving on with the house. I have finished the roof, all timber work and the chimney. The build is basically done. Next I will be adding plaster to the walls. After that I will be doing interiors and adding final details. :) Only thing I am not completely satisfied with is the balcony. I might change its design.

Mournful Knight #5

Today I finished the last vampire for my Mournful Knights unit (counts as Blood Knights). I'm happy how he turned out. I really dig the pose of the mini. After putting this project aside for a considerable amount time, I'm glad I returned to it and finally completed the unit. Now only thing left is to make some group photos and think of a background story. 🧛

Project Log: Altburg - Townhouse II, Part 2

There's been significant work done on the house last couple of months. First I finished all the stonework and timber on the back of the model's ground floor and started to build a large chimney.

After that I finished all the textures on the right side, and with that the ground floor was finished from the outside. Still have to do the interior.

Then I started to build the upper floor.

After all the openings were done (doors and windows) I started to add timber. On this floor and the floors above I will be doing plastered walls. But that I'm leaving for later.

I also added a protruding window on one side and continued to build the chimney on the back.

After I finished all the walls on the first floor, apart from plaster, I started to move upwards. I decided to build a balcony above the main entrance supported by the series of wooden beams.

There is still a ton of work to do but the house is slowly getting the final shape.

Mournful Knight Musician

I have returned to my Mournful Knights (Blood Knights) after putting them aside for some time. Painting Gamezone Miniatures tends to be a bit exhausting sometimes. As much as I like them it gets really frustrating at times because it's really hard to tell what is what on the miniature. Not once have I painted something on one of their miniatures not knowing what it actually represents. Nonetheless, I have finished the hornblower for the unit. That is now four out of five done. Can't wait to finish the unit and make a group photo.

Working on the next big skeleton unit

So for my next big skeleton unit I am going to be using Games Workshop Grave Guard models from 1999. I like the models. However, I don't think they fit perfectly in style with other Vampire Counts miniatures from that period. Perhaps that is the reason they were very short-lived and were replaced in 2001. Also they newer made a command group for this unit which is kind of annoying.

At first, I painted all the clothes in black, and armor in dark metallic color. I wanted to add some red, since all my units have some red on them, so I decided to paint the straps in red. However, after finishing first four, I wasn't 100% satisfied. It turned out I didn't really like the red straps in the end. It just wasn't realistic since these would be definitely made in leather. So I decided to paint them in brown colors. However now I was left without any red, so I decided to ditch the rusty shields and replace them with Empire spearmen shields which I then painted in red color. These shields have the symbol of a lion on them which kind of looks like a dragon, so I think they fit quite nicely with the unit. I also decided to add some rust to the armor plating. So here is the final paint scheme I'm satisfied with:

Valdemar Von Todtstein

Son of Kain. Extremely violent and sadistic creature even by Vampire standards. Known to rip and eat the faces of his victims leaving them in horrifying state. Clad in Blood Dragon armor and draped in red cape, he is a real nightmare for people across the Empire. Eaten faces are his signature. Loyal to his father above all, he often spreads terror by his side, leaving Kain astound at times by the cruelty of his son. The slaughter of townsfolk and local man-at-arms in the village of Brashovice is where he left his biggest mark. 

In life he was an infamous, expert duelist, very hot headed. No man wanted to offend him or cross his path - it didn't take much for Valdemar to throw down the gauntlet. Every noble who did, payed with his head. In un-life his choice of weapons remained the same, a pair of dueling swords.

This is one of the Games Workshop "midhammer" Blood Dragon minis. Released in 6th edition, this line of Vampire minis is my all time favorite! Plan is to collect and paint them all, both on foot and mounted. Although traditionally Blood Dragon armor is in red color, I kind of like my armor to be in metallic colors. I gave him the red cape instead.

Berthold Brandt

After about 15 years I'm slowly returning to my Warhammer Empire army. This was my second army which I started to collect back in the year 2000, after three years of collecting Wood Elves. Vampire Counts, Empire and the Tomb Kings are my three favorite Warhammer armies, and I hope, with time, I'll manage to collect them all! :) 

I decided to start this journey with one of the characters, Berthold Brandt, a warrior priest armed with a hammer and a shield.

I like both the pose of the mini and the character. I decided to use more or less the official color scheme (which rarely happens) from the 7th edition Army Book. I think the choice of colors is great. I did however paint one of his eyes like it is blind with scaring around it from the battle wound. I think it makes the priest look more brutal, like a veteran who had his share of action. I also did some dirt stains on his clothes.

And here are some shots with neutral background:

Project Log: Altburg - Townhouse II, Part 1

Time to start working to the second house for my big Altburg project! This one will be based on the existing Tabletop World Townhouse III model, which I plan to modify quite a lot. I already did some work on the ground floor.

I started by adding wall sections and stairs to the bottom of the Tabletop World Townhouse III model. I also removed the flagstone flooring from the ground floor.

Next step was to remove some of the stone texture in order to rebuild the walls and make them look uniform. Also, I dug out the small tunnel under the stairs which will lead to the functional doors. On one side of the ground floor I added a functional window.

I decided to start the wall with a pillar to make it more interesting. I also added one stone flower-holder in the front.

Next, I will be doing the rear side. Cheers guys! 🍺

Leonard "Lenny" the Henchman

Recently I have painted another Dunkeldorf Miniatures character. This time a henchman Leonard aka Lenny. The resemblance to the rock legend Lemmy from Motorhead is obvious, hence the name Lenny I guess. I think it's a cool tribute to the man. :)

As always, it was a joy to paint one of their minis. Really crisp sculpt with just the right amount of details.

Lenny always liked to hang out with Helmut, but recently he is thinking about finding a new drinking buddy. Helmut gets hammered way to easily these days. :D

Cheers guys!🍻

Expanding the zombie horde

Every once in a while I want to (and need to) do a few zombies so that my zombie horde constantly grows. The Black Guard is still my biggest infantry unit, which does not make sense since they are an elite unit compared to zombies. I need to get to the three digit number to consider my zombie unit a decently sized horde.

Recently I bought some Forgotten World Living Dead Peasants which I intended to combine with my recently discontinued Games Workshop zombies. The size of the torso and legs fits perfectly with GW models, but heads and arms are significantly smaller. Especially the arms which are overexaggerated on GW models. They just didn't look right together.

Then I came up with an idea to combine the parts from the two kits. This way I will add variety to the unit without loosing cohesiveness. I used torsos from the Forgotten World zombies with the heads and arms from the Games Workshop zombies. I must say I was actually quite pleased how they fitted together, I didn't even end up with those bulging shoulders which is the thing I hate the most about GW zombies. I like that you get some female bodies in the FW kit which go awesomely well with those "Norma Bates" heads from the GW kit. 😁

I also like those typical, dragging, zombie legs which are featured on the FW models. So here is the result of combining the two kits: