Ptolemy's army:Massive Display Board and 100% Finished Army!

[Ptolemy]

Hey gang,

I've begun work on redesigning/repainting/remodeling some of the elements of my army in preparation for the fall tournament season. I'm going to be doing an extensive bit of work to my army but I think the end result will be worth it. I'm counting on my improved painting to show since last year.

Tracking the progress here will hopefully keep me in check.

So...for this post I'm going to show off some newly designed elements for the army.

First...the old display board



I love it, but it doesn't fit my current list. I have no more seaguard at all, for one. In addition, I really wanted to have the board tell more of a story, with character elements making it into the board itself.

One of those character elements is found in my newly designed Phoenix Guard unit filler.



The original on the left was always a bit odd to me. I liked the idea of the blind oracle with the PG, but I didn't really ever come up with a good reason for her to be on the pillar. The new version features a far better set of highlights, including the altar which contrasts really well when placed within the unit.

Another favorite replacement idea of mine was to replace my current great eagles (Lions from the Lion Chariot) with flocks of little phoenix birds doing some damage.





It is an image of a dark rider being literally torn apart by angry phoenix. It is not yet done (about 90% there) but the center bird has actually set alight the druchii's head and completely chared the face of the now very dead dark elf.

Would love to hear all of your thoughts.

[Lord Anathir]

I remember liking the look of your army a while back when you posted it with your display board. Sadly I have no experience at all when it comes to display boards and fillers, so I don't really have any concrete ideas on how to help you. Only suggestion I have is to redo the horse's eyes, and go with a more linear approach (as oppose to the circular way you've done them). A white horizontal line, then a black vertical one maybe 1/3 from the front. I found it gives it a more standard look as oppose to a somewhat shocked expression the horse has now.

[Ptolemy]

Thanks for the feedback!

Im still putting the finishing touches on the "eagle".

I was trying to catch the shocked look with the horse. I see it as panicking as the birds attack. I will certainly fix up those eyes.

Thanks and keep the suggestions coming.

[Wolfroar]

I really like the display board you made. That ship is amazing, where did you get it?

Unit filler looks much better near with the altar, can you add a picture with the PG together?

About the phoenix bases, the birds are awesome, but somehow it took some time to see what was really happening. First I thought it was an elf with a phoenix head.

As a suggestion: I think the body still looks too much alive for a headless elf. Maybe make the arms more hanging, as life is draining away. Or maybe make it look he falls of his horse. Or even better, why would only his head be burned, make his upper body in flames. That would ba a sight..

[Ptolemy]

Hey gang,

Thanks for the replies, all.

@Wolfroar - I'll be happy to take a shot with the unit filler inside the PG, I'll get on that in the next few days. By the way, I couldn't agree more with the dead dark elf so.....

I wanted to show off my updated 'Great Eagle' counts-as concept.






As you can hopefully see (sorry, best I have is a bootleg light box and an Iphone camera) it is a Cold One Knight having his head charred and removed by a flight of angry phoenix. At the same time, the Cold One itself has caught a bolt to the eye and is crashing to the ground as it dies.

I think it is a solid improvement over the last attempt, with A) a better dark elf model and B) far more 'action' in the model itself. I still have to finish off the weapons and the lighting and camera doesn't really show that the armor is tinted green (the one primary color not featured anywhere in my HE army) in what I thought was a very nice and subtle effect.

Would love to hear some general thoughts.

[pk-ng]

Damn Ptolemy it's looking good!

[tinman]

That is awesome!! Great paint too!!

[Jimmy]

Nice!

[Shannar, Sealord]

What are you using as the phinoxes? I need to find a couple of those...

[John Rainbow]

Really cool!

[Wolfroar]

Two thumbs up, big improvement!

[Flaxis]

Commander Shannar, Sealord,

I believe they are Dark Eldar Razorwings

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catal ... od1140047a

Of course I could be wrong.

I do really like the idea and concept as well, would make a great feautre on say a Phoenix Guard Filler. Thank you for sharing. The second looks a lot better.

Commander Flaxis

[Ptolemy]

Yup...its the Dark Eldar Razorwings. Thank God I got them before they went finecast.

Thanks for the kind comments all and sorry for the delay in updates but I have been working! Pics below...

First Up -My Phoenix Flocks (counts-as Eagles). One more left to go.
The wrath of an angry god is a terrible thing. Even a Creator God may be roused to anger when his chosen children are threatened...







Next - My Spearmen Unit Filler -The Phoenix Crown being escorted by a High Priest of Asuryan (nearly done, just a few tidbits to sort out)

As is right and custom, the soon to be crowned Phoenix King may have an honor guard escort the Phoenix Crown to the Temple of Asuryan for the Ritual of Coronation.




With the unit (using old LSG models for my spearmen. WIP.About 10 more to go.)



Lastly- Doing an archer unit out of Shadow Warrior models. Also...I have seven other models done but they are the newest Shadow Warriors. Those sculpts are terrible. Its not even asthetics. Its flat out bad sculpting. There is basically no facial detail at all. I hate them and won't field them so I'm on the prowl for seven more of this group.

The dark kin of the Asur think their ancient cousins weak. Little do they know that in this place, they are strongest of all...

The unit filler represents the Banner of Eternal Flame.




Happy to be back on track this month.Hopefully, I can finish up the last eagle before the month ends

[Elessehta of Yvresse]

Your blues are so vibrant!

[Asurion Whitestar]

Loving the new stuff.

Your inspirational to me because your creams and contrasts are exactly what I'll be doing with my army.

[Elessehta of Yvresse]

For your Archers, consider some Glade Guard with a head swap, they should fit in with the Shadow Warriors without all looking the same.

[Giladis]

Do consider the phoenix crown idea stolen. It looks great and would loke quite nicely on a Tyrion conversion I am planing.

Where did you get that cool helmet for the mage, it looks very Druchii like.

[Aicanor]

I like that there is a story behind the images. And the firebirds are perfect. The archer unit filler is a little empty compared to the rest, but good as well.

[Ptolemy]

Thanks, all!

@Asurion - take a look at the menoth white base and menoyh white highlight colors from the P3 line. Awesome cream colors.

@Elessehta- I tried that. The problem is that the glade guard bodies dont really have enough different areas to properly maintain the colorscheme. I'll give it another look.

@Giladis- the head for the priest was the reault of trying to match the fluff. Everything I read seems to indicate that statues of Asuryan always have masks. Its from maxminis mecha egyptian heads line. I love them!

@Aiconor- Yeah, Im going to find a way to fill out the archer unit a bit. Not sure how yet (other than an archer). Any ideas?

[Giladis]

@Giladis- the head for the priest was the reault of trying to match the fluff. Everything I read seems to indicate that statues of Asuryan always have masks. Its from maxminis mecha egyptian heads line. I love them!

Maximinis you say, I will sure take a look at them.

As for the masks that is correct but as far as I remember the masks are half white - half black representing Asuryans impartial judgement.

[Aicanor]

Not nearly enough fire there, what about a nice bonfire? The blue coals are nice, but they lack actual flames. Then only add a few flaming arrows (even an archer setting them afire?). That's what I would try to do, at least.

[tinman]

AWESOME!!

[Russell the Muscle]

Very cool. I really like the bright Blues and fiery Reds. Also the tan to white on the cloaks is a nice change from most grey to white schemes.

[Ptolemy]

Very cool. I really like the bright Blues and fiery Reds. Also the tan to white on the cloaks is a nice change from most grey to white schemes.

It comes from some reaearch I did into advanced color theory. I wanted to give my least important troops a desaturated color scheme. With space wolves grey being used for my desaturated blues, I couldnt use grey as a base for the cloaks.

Not nearly enough fire there, what about a nice bonfire? The blue coals are nice, but they lack actual flames. Then only add a few flaming arrows (even an archer setting them afire?). That's what I would try to do, at least.

Bonfires wont fit the eventual display board. I was considering a line of arrows buried in the ground and a small fire elemental running through them to set them alight. Thoughts?

[Elessehta of Yvresse]

Bonfires wont fit the eventual display board. I was considering a line of arrows buried in the ground and a small fire elemental running through them to set them alight. Thoughts?

That could be awesome, maybe use a little woodelf sprite or something.

[Elithmar]

I must be one of the only people to like the new shadow warriors...

[Elessehta of Yvresse]

Have you seen the old ones?

[Elithmar]

Ptolemy has pictures of them here!

[Aicanor]

Why not? Bonfire may not be the best solution, but I would still add flames. Perhaps at a base of the standard and around the arrows, rising from the ground. It needs something in the center. Perhaps also bolt cases that come with Bolt Throwers could be used. They are not so unresonably oversized. Just a few thoughts...

I must be one of the only people to like the new shadow warriors...

I quite like them, but some really could have better sculpted faces. I had to paint one dripping blood to cover up the mess.

[Ptolemy]

Thanks you all for weighing in. I took the suggestions to heart.

Following Aicanor's suggestion, I went ahead and added some open flames to the center of the archer unit filler. I hope it improves the overall look. Opinions?



I also got the archers to a near done state. This means just needing gems, bows highlighted and bases finished. Honest C&C would be very appreciated.