More progress made on the standard bearer for the skeleton warriors core unit.
It's a nice break from rank and file painting, as most undead generals will likely agree..
I am pleased with the way the bloodstains came out, rather than splatter 'blood' on a lighter canvas I went for the challenge of trying to bloodstain a red 'canvas' banner. The effect looks quite nice I hope without adding any usual glossy red gunky varnish/tamiya clear red effects yet etc. The very tips will be glossier and wet looking during the final work on it.
For the icon I decided instead to go browsing gothic fonts; I went for a simple Initial for the Ravenstein Bloodline.
.
So after a weekend of hobby (including a 5 hour epic game of Super Dungeon Explore!) my undead core units are coming along well... I hope to have them on the battlefield within a week. I spent more time than I had counted on creating the musician for the unit, and I am still deciding on a standard bearer model/conversion for the unit.
Still a way to go but the bonework is done and the weapons and shields are weathered and rusted (the latter are yet to be attatched to many of the models). Small armour accents such as scale mail will be bronze and weathered with turquoise to pop them. Belts will be dark leather + mouldy green.
Then finally basing and we are ready for war!
I am working on the core units now and firing all cylinders late into the nights.
Mainly a large block of 40 warriors in the mid stages of completion.
I was never a fan of lungless undead carrying large wind instruments into battle so I set about creating my own musician model and I am quite happy with the final posing and sculpy work so I have begun painting.
As a child I was very fortunate, in that my grandfather was a constant source of education and inspiration to me. He was a classical Violinist, and he would practice on Sunday afternoons while I sat and drew little pictures for him as he played. One of my cherished memories is my gramps sat on his stool, playing along to Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre, a soaring, powerful piece and one of my all time favourite pieces of music.
He really was a maestro with the bow and strings and would launch into the piece with gusto while his old record player popped and crackled out the orchestral accompaniment.
Well, years later, I decided to honour this memory and bring to life something I always imagined in my mind. There really was only one choice of musician to play my legions forward into the enemy...
Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre WIP
And in case you have never experienced the inspiration..
