Strength & Foresight - Eldar Command Group

Back in December 'Winterfest' was launched on The Emporium of Rogue Dreams Facebook page. Build and paint an Eldar single model, unit or vehicle by 12th January. The Command Group category was my favourite category from the early 1990s Golden Demon awards. I loved seeing a tight group of four themed models, usually comprised of a selection of commanders, leaders, champions or musicians plus a standard bearer:

David Knowles Squat Command Group (Golden Demon 1991)

Barry Lees' 1st place Ork Command Group (Golden Demon 1991)

I decided I'd build and paint a Command Group for the unit category under the premise of 'What I might have entered into the Command Group category at Golden Demon 1994'*.

*Assuming that the Command Group category still existed in 1994!

My Eldar Command Group (theoretically entered at Golden Demon 1994)

Mobile Firepower - Eldar Scout Walker and Spotter

With the deadline of completing my Eldar scout kill team for the Old World Sprint Challenge looming, I figured it was high time to get on and finish the final two figures required. I needed to bring in one last Scout to meet the minimum requirement of 10 figures, as well as a "support element", which could be anything relevant to the unit - a Dreadnought, transport, heavy weapon or similar.

Eternal Wanderlust - Eldar Scout Characters

Part of the fun of Kill Team is including a wide range of individual specialist fighters. Whilst I'm limiting my Eldar Kill Team to the Ranger/Scout theme, that doesn't mean that I can't include proxies like my "grav platform" guy with his big gun. And like my illegal 2nd edition unit of Scouts with shuriken catapults, I see no reason why long rifles are the only weapons that an Eldar Scout would utilise.

Pathfinder Bres Ayvan leads his scouts through Imperial ruins.

So my next two additions are the leader of the Kill Team, and a guy with a handy special weapon. In game terms my leader, Bres Ayvan, represents a Dire Avenger Exarch (hence his shuriken catapult), and the fusion gunner is a Storm Guardian.

Ranger Support - Eldar Scouts with Alternate Weapons

I wanted to add some variety into my Eldar scout-themed Kill Team. I figured the best way to do this was by way of proxying some scouts with different weaponry. My favourite unit in my 2nd edition 40k army was a squad of scouts armed with shuriken catapults. These guys in fact:

This veteran unit has experienced the horrors of being boxed and discarded for decades.

I converted this unit by clipping off their long rifle barrels and replacing them with Dark Elf crossbows. At some point in the late 1990s or early 2000s, the unit got further upgrades with fur and Wood Elf accoutrements, and were used as Exodites. It was only a few weeks ago that I suffered the acutely embarrassing realisation that scouts armed with shuriken catapults are not a legal 2nd edition codex unit. I can tell that you're shocked.

My current Kill Team will salvage and refurbish some of the horrifically converted scouts owned by my younger self. And will possibly redeem my rules illegality in the process.

Eldritch Outcasts - Eldar Scout Unit

Back at the start of the year I confidently predicted I'd be painting up a Rogue Trader Eldar army. That may yet prove to be the case, and perhaps my current project will help ease me into it.

I'm painting up an Eldar Scout/Ranger* force two hit two hobby outcomes. The first is to create a new force to use in games of Kill Team, the new 40k skirmish game. The second is to participate in a fun two-month challenge in one of the Facebook groups I'm a member of. The Old World Sprint Challenge challenges participants to paint at least 10 models from the system of their choice.

I'll be painting 6 standard Eldar scouts plus some conversions to represent the different troop types available in Kill Team.

Eldritch Raiders the Army - Beginnings

I can't remember exactly when I build my last actual army. I know it was for a tournament in the mid-2000s. I know it was Eldar, and I know it was when the plastic Dire Avengers had just been released. I know this because I built lots of them.

Since then I have focused solely on skirmish level games. Blood Bowl. Necromunda. Inquisimunda. Shadow War Armageddon. I have not desired making or playing with an army in any way shape or form.

But then some of the Oldhammer folks started doing the Old World Army Challenge, and I wondered whether a small army might be feasible. Whether it might be fun. Whether I should actually make one of the armies I've always wanted. At the same time Asslessman over at Leadplague was having similar thoughts. So we made a gentleman's agreement to each build and paint a 40k army over the course of 2018. In fact Asslessman has already made a start with his fabulous chaos squats. Check them out. I on the other hand, will be building a delicate, refined, classical Space Elf force using the Eldritch Raiders list from the Book of the Astronomican.

Original Art - Part 8: Karl Kopinski's Craftworld Eldar

Back in 2011, I found myself in a café bar in an old Victorian music hall in Nottingham, my wallet full of cash. I was there to meet the ex-GW artist Karl Kopinski to purchase a pair of stunning illustrations. Karl and I conducted the transaction over a pint, and I came away a little poorer, but very happy indeed.

The two pieces of artwork I purchased were published in the Codex Craftworld Eldar book in 2000. The mini-dex provided rules for fielding the various major Eldar Craftworlds. Each Craftworld receiving a two-page spread, accompanied by one of Karl's illustrations.

Codex Craftworld Eldar, published in 2000.

The Eldar Sketchbook - A Review

I received this wonderful book in the post today:

But just what is it, and where did it come from?

Heavy Resin: Epicast 'Eldar' Vehicles

Many of you will be aware that in the early to mid-1990s, a number of companies produced licensed upscaled versions of the 6mm Epic vehicles and war machines in 28mm. I've already blogged about some of the Eldar vehicles, including Knight Titans and Tempest Super Heavy grav tanks.

A few weeks ago I posted a scenic picture of my Eldar Void Pirates. In the background was a sleek black Eldar vehicle:

The vehicle in question is one of three vehicles designed and produced by Epicast, for use alongside Eldar armies. These vehicles, unlike others in Epicast's range, were not upscaled Epic designs produced under licence, but were created to their own design. Here's a brief overview of the three Eldar vehicles produced.

Storytellers and Mystics - Eldar Bonesinger

Jes Goodwin tells us with some authority that Eldar Bonesingers are mystics, psykers and priests to wraithbone. A Bonesinger is a "creator of [the starship's] wraithbone skeleton" and also a storyteller who recounts "the stories of those in the spirit stone[s]."

Eldar Starship Crew concepts by Jes Goodwin, published in White Dwarf 119.

Bonesingers therefore appear to be a combination of bard, priest and engineer. Creator of Eldar technology, link with the dead and an important conduit in terms of cultural continuity. In short, they are interesting characters with more depth than the future-delving Farseers or war-psyker Warlocks.

It made sense that my Eldar Pirate warband should include a Bonesinger, not only for the practicalities of caring for their ship, but also as a moderating factor to the warlike and wild crew.

Rarely does Lriael Spellsister set foot on the surface of any planet, so occupied is she with caring for the Wraithbone core and superstructure of the Shimmersand Hawk. Indeed, few of the Free Company seek her out, for she sings to the dead and wild souls do not wish to be reminded of their own mortality. 

 

Man Skirts ARE In Vogue - Tal Newblade, Eldar Void Pirate

The problem with playing in an Inquisimunda (or Necromunda) campaign, is that you keep on earning money. You keep on wanting to spend it on new gear and new additions to your warband. Which means new models. OK, it's not really too much of a problem, but it does require some effort. A fortnight ago, I rolled up a free addition to my warband, by virtue of holding a settlement as part of my territory. Our campaign GM agreed this should be a basic Eldar character (a Rating in the Void Pirates list). I went away and rummaged amongst my Eldar spare parts and damaged figures, and put together this guy:

 

 

Tal Newblade is a rash youngster (a mere 93 years old). Considered to be somewhat hot-headed and impulsive by the rest of the Free Company, Tal is easily marked amongst his fellows by his rather garish fashion sense and unnecessarily flamboyant wargear.

 



 

Elfman and the Fishdog

I've painted two pretty much unrelated figures over the past week. The only thing they really have in common is that they're needed for future games: a new Eldar figure for my Inquisimunda campaign, and a companion model for my 'Space Riders' RPG character.

Fishdog
'What on earth is Space Riders?', I hear you ask. It's a Rogue Trader themed RPG I'm currently involved playing online with a group of gaming buddies. My character is Fim, a rather moribund Piscean Warrior. We'll be playing a physical game of RT in a few months time, and need to represent each character, plus a companion, on the table. Happily, I painted up one of Obscure Creator's fishmen about 18 months ago, so I just needed to source and paint a suitable companion.
  

I've had a swamp hound model from Four A Miniatures sitting in a box for ages, for just this very purpose. I gave him a very quick paint job using a neutral skin colour to contrast with the more brightly coloured Fim.

Retro-styled Eldar Scout - Merne Darkbrow



With the ongoing development of my Eldar Void Pirates warband in my current Inquisimunda campaign, I needed a new recruit. I fancied making a character which had a bit of a Eldar Scout / Ranger vibe, but wanted the figure to tie in with some of the styling of the Rogue Trader Space Elves.

 

I delved around in my bits box and sourced a spare Space Elf and a gun-less Eldar scout from a previous conversion. I quickly mocked up the below concept:

 

Satisfied that the conversion would do the job, I set about the two figures with my saw, making sure to avoid damage to the slung helmet and laspistol hanging from the left shoulder. I replaced the shuriken weapon with a plastic Eldar lasgun, and added the scope from a modern plastic Dire Avenger. Then it was a case of covering the joins and repairing any damage with greenstuff.

 

Eldar D-Cannon Anti-Grav Platform

Ahead of the start of tonight's first game of our new Inquisimunda campaign, I needed to put the finishing touches to the Eldar Vod Pirates I'll be using. The big omission was a some decent ranged firepower. I decided to pull out an old Rogue Trader D-Cannon anti-grav platform which I'll be using to represent a multi-laser in the campaign. I am using the anti-grav platform as it allows me to move and fire with the heavy weapon - a very useful trait in the Necromunda ruleset!

 

 

Eldar Battle Drone - Executioner Class

Happy New Year to you all. Things are moving apace on the gaming front over the next few months. I've just booked flights to attend Knavecon in Ireland at the end of April, but more pertinently for my output for the next few weeks, I'll be joining in a new Inquisimunda campaign.

My initial thoughts were to use the Rogue Quest band, but I had a last minute change of mind, deciding they were too similar to Inquisitor Dirske and his retinue from the last campaign. Instead, I've decided to use a motley band of Eldar Void Pirates, which will include Taal Spellsinger, Prince Nuadha and Caspalta Silverhair. I've always liked the old Eldar Battle Drones / Ghost Warriors, and as a Void Pirate Captain can be accompanied by a Construct (effectively a servitor), I decided that I'd use one as a 'counts as'.

I've actually got a dozen or so of the Ghost Warriors sitting in a case - back in 2010 I attended my last ever 40k tournament with a Wraith-themed Eldar army. Much to my embarrassment, I only base-coated the entire army with purple bodies, grey heads and black weapons. I cringe even now when I think about an entire army of poorly based coated Eldar on the table.

On the left, the 'painted' starting point.

 

Rogue Quest Level 6: The Bard

 

Recruitment continues for my sci-fi adventuring party, based on the concept of classic dungeoneering archetypes. After JB's crisp and clean Paladin, this week it's my turn yet again. And I've turned to my favourite 40k races and one of my very favourite models to represent the next addition - a bard.

 

I knew from the outset that a) I wanted a bard and b) I was going to make my bard of an elven bent. In a slight fit of concern, I watched closely as Alex over at Leadballoony revealed his very similar take on the bard archetype, but happily he chose a different model, leaving me free to continue as planned.

 

My selected model is Taal Spellsinger, a musician from the original 40k Space Elf / Eldar command group selection. Taal not only carries a rather exotic set of weaponry (hand flamer, katana), but also sports an even more exotic musical instrument in the form of a voice amplifier. 

2D to 3D: Creating an Eldar Adventurer

This is probably the last post for a few weeks as I'm heading off on holiday later in the week. I've managed to squeeze in one last project before I go however. This time it's a rather self-indulgent recreation of a character from the Rogue Trader rulebook, specifically the un-named Eldar Adventurer on p188:

Melnibone Begat Bethmoora Begat Eldar...

After painting a fair few Ash Waste Nomads, I decided I wanted to paint up something entirely different last night (a change is as good as a rest, right?!). On examining my shelf of pending figures, I realised that I hadn't yet painted my Eldar Prince I converted up for the Inq28 movie character challenge over at the Ammobunker forums. Given that the deadline was the end of March, I figure it was high time that the figure saw some paint.

 

As a reminder, my figure was based on Prince Nuada - the villain in Hellboy 2: The Golden Army:

 



 

 

Here's my fully painted 40k interpretation, Eldar Corsair Prince Eldric Nuadra:

 



Eldritch Prince (WIP Eldar Corsair)

Last week MasterBuilder over at the Ammobunker Inq28 forums proposed a fun project with a very simple premise: pick a movie character and turn them into a 40k figure. I was already thinking about making myself an Eldar Pirate Prince / Corsair character, and this seemed like the perfect excuse!

After a bit of time googling, I had narrowed it down to King Thranduil from The Hobbit films, David Bowie in Labyrinth, and Prince Nuada from Hellboy 2. In the end, Prince Nuada won out, primarily because of his rather Elric-like features. And that's where I started looking for a decent base model; I wanted the figure to be a Citadel elf, but something less recognisable than the main Warhammer and 40k ranges.

Prince Nuada from Hellboy 2

My Top 10 Minis Of All Time

Last week over at the Oldhammer Facebook group, Juck Vaughan posed this very succinct question:

"What are your top ten pieces of all time?"

The question generated quite a bit of interest, with plenty of suggestions. I myself waded in with a list of 10 miniatures of my personal favourites. Think about the implications of the question though - is it really possible to select just 10 figures? Imagine that you are being forced by your wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend, partner or significant other to sell your entire collection of figures. You have been granted a small concession and can keep, trade or buy just 10 figures which are representative of your time in the hobby.