hi all,
so what does the mighty host of Ulthuan look like, now it is all dusted off and the final models painted (15 years after they were started!)
Well first up, the main man himself - Prince Andris Deftblade, Lord of the Alzuri Heights, Keeper of the Sacred Chalice, Protector of the Shrine of Alfeyri Nubaris. Thankfully he just needed dusting off. I could have painted more detail, as my skills have improved somewhat over the last decade and a half, but tbh I just wanted him on the table, so he got a coat of varnish and voila. Mounted on his favourite steed, the Griffon - Razorbeak and armed with a lance, full plate armour and shield, and carrying a longbow (just in case there is a turn he has nothing he can do). He is a mobile death machine and can strike the flanks and rear of his enemies, confident that he will turn the curs and run them down. Originally, I modelled him with a dragonscale shield, made out of putty but that magic item is no longer available in the new (old) game.


Next up are the magi. Archmage Webril Feylight, the prince's best friend and most trusted advisor. She is mounted on an elven steed for mobility and a bit of protection (barded save). She also has the silvery wand, which means she can take 5x High Magic spells, which is awesome. With her is Aolex Crystalgaze, her apprentice and protegee. Aolex is currently studying the lesser magics of the monkee (humans) and is a level 2 battle magic user. She also has the silvery wand (a common item for elves), so can take 3x spells. Again both of these models were painted before and just needed dusting and varnishing.

Lastly from the characters section, we have Captain Stefire. Stefire is a Chracian noble who charges into battle on the "Kurnus's Pride", a massive lion chariot. He carries a giant Chracian great blade and wears the Lion pelt over the top of his full plate armour. He also has a Dragon Helm and carries the seed of rebirth, in an effort to keep him in the fight. Another old model, that has been dusted off etc.
For my core units, what High Elf armour would march to war without ranks of long bow archers! Once again, just a quick dusting and varnishing.
I then turned to an old favourite of mine - the Lothern Sea Guard. Unlike the other units, this was incomplete. I had painted 75% of the unit and had to paint the remainder. That meant purchasing some GW paints (I now use Army Painter almost exclusively), as I didn't have the purple that I had used as a main army theme. I also didn't have the right shade of brown for the base edges or turquoise for the streamers either, so I had to put in an order and wait for it to arrive.
The next units had to be painted from scratch as they had only received a black primer spray. I tried to keep the painting in keeping with my style from 15 years ago, but i couldn't help it and I spent a bit more time on the smaller details, that I just used to paint over back in the day when i painted mass armies.
First up is a small unit of Phoenix Guard, these beasts are a hard hitting unit and stay in the fight longer than their small size would suggest.
next is an eagle claw bolt thrower, i must admit to really liking the painting of the wood chassis of the war machine.
Then we have Bartilla and his Dawn Patrol - a small unit of Ellyrian Reaver Knights. This tiny unit of skirmishers killed off a Bull lord minotaur in their last game, so....
Lastly, we have the mage from the Isle of Blood set, I don't actually use him in my army but it was the last high elf i had left, so finished him off too.
And that's them. My High Elf army in all its glory. All painted, and blooded! Having their (and my) first game of WHFB in a decade and a half. We even managed to scrape a win against a hellish beastmen tribe. Incidentally this is the first army I've completely painted ever! despite owning 6 armies of various completion (before i'd get bored and move on...)
**edit** I realise I haven't photographed my small unit of Swordmasters. Oh well, please imagine a gorgeously painted (?!?) unit of SM.
hope you enjoy
dGG
#1 - they all look great mate. Looking forward to seeing them on the game table and you sharing pics!
ReplyDelete#2 - just the single unit of spears and archers? Or are you merely previewing the one of each here? Just curious.
#3 - No Dragon Prince knights? They were my fav cavalry unit back in the late 90's. Really cool sculpts.
#1 - the army as is will be fighting Daemons tomorrow night, so will try and get some pics.
Delete#2 - just the single unit of spears, so far. I'm trialling 2x detachments of archers tomorrow, compared to the large block just to see if smaller units add anything to the composition.
#3 - I love the sculpts but my army is based on the IoB box set and there were only Reaver cav in the box. I'd love to have a cav based force with tiranoc chariots and skycutters. I'd love dragon riders too. Lots of things on the shopping list
Great looking army Andy, and must feel really good to have the army now finished, that is before you find out you need a different unit (happens to all of us ! LOL)
ReplyDeletethanks Dave, it's nice to have a full and usable painted force. Loads of future units to consider though >>> rabbit hole....lol
DeleteCrikey. You have been busy, Andy - I particularly love your work on Prince Andris Deftblade. I've recently bought a load of STLs which were clearly based upon this style of Elf, so fully intend to pop back to this posting for some inspiration when the time comes to print/paint them up.
ReplyDeleteVery busy Simon, thank you. Although Andris was painted 15 years ago, it seems to have stood the test of time. I bought a load of STLs last week too, more elves but not the haughty urbane types, can't wait to get them to the paint table and can't wait to see yours when they get them on your blog
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