Monday 26 December 2022

Tomb Kings Cavalry, Tomb Scorpions, and scenery. And another big kitty too.

More dusty Tomb Kings...

I have been really (bone) rattling through the army. In addition to below, I have been assembling hundreds of Skeleton Warriors, as well as making a start on all 21 of the Chariots.

Anyway, I have painted some Skeleton Cavalry, two regiments of Horse Archers, and two regiments of  Horsemen. I wanted to paint these as I have always liked Horse Archers, and when I did play a game I found them useful. As for the Horsemen, I wanted to paint these just for the look of them. Also, to add a little more to my photography I have purchased, assembled, and painted some of Citadels old Arcane Ruins.

Enjoy :)

Skeleton Horse Archers.
First Regiment.
Second Regiment.
Close up of a few.
Arcane Ruins.
I have added a few extra details as there was a good article about converting them in White Dwarf #377 (May 2011).
I like how they came out, and I like that they are more Warhammer in their look than more directly Ancient Egyptian.
Obelisk.
I added a Tomb King standard top to the top, and an Egyptian looking statue from an old Eldar Dire Avengers (I think(!), but it is a Citadel item) set from many years ago.
Arcane ruin arch with another Tomb Kings standard.
Arcane ruin arch with yet another Tomb Kings standard.
No real reason for this photograph other than it looks quite moody!
Ruins together.
Ruins, with Skeletons for scale.
Skeleton Horsemen.
First Regiment.
To give them a more Heavy Cavalry look I used the helmeted skeleton heads and mixed in a couple of the armoured skeleton torso from the Skeleton Warriors boxed set.
The Second Regiment.
I wanted to break up the slightly homogenous turquoise look of the army with a couple of regimenst which look like they are from subject/allied cities which have send troops to help the main army. I did this before with Khalida's archers being painted green. Here, I have painted one regiment of Horsemen red, but not too close to the Crimson Kings red army look of course! 
Liche Priest.
This is just the normal Liche Priest miniatures mounted on the Wright Lords metal horse (with a little green stuff to fill in under the saddle).
I might have him as my Hierophant.
Tomb Scorpions.
I like these, and recall them being useful in the game.
Top/rear view showing the un-built Liche priest.
Another Kitty.
This is the third and final of my Warsphinxes. I love the models, the idea, and how they worked in the game. I will photograph all three together for the next blog update.
Rear view.
Another Skeleton Archer for Khalida's regiment.
Why?
Well the original regiment had 39 archers, and Khalida. However I thought it might be a nice idea if firstly she was wasn't tied to the regiment but could wander off, and second that the regiment could be used as a 'normal' regiment with her and without having to pay the point for her.

Next update will be of course more Tomb Kings, probably the WIP on the Chariots. I am however looking at projects afterwards, and in the new year I want to paint some Goblins...

Tuesday 29 November 2022

Tomb Guard, Bone Giants, Archers, and an overview so far...

 I have been busy painting more Tomb Kings, and I am thoroughly enjoying painting them. I am finding them quite straight forward to paint and am getting a lot of them done.

The first photograph below is from my progress from earlier in the month, and so there are more completed than shown. For some reason I thought I had already posted a blog update this month, and was ready to post a second with the latest painted miniatures, but it turns out I hadn't!

In addition I have been assembling the last of the kits and re/assembling various Skeleton Warrior kits for the large number of  foot soldiers. Finally, I have painted moody looking desert and desert sky background boards for photography so I can have the miniatures in more of a context. The dead are on their relentless march forward...

Enjoy:)

The army, so far...
60 Plastic Tomb Guard.
I really loved this kit when it was realised, and bought several, and I have added odds and ends over the years. They appear to be quite sought after now, and rightly so as they are a lovely kit. There are four spare War Sphinx Tomb Guard mixed in, and about four converted armoured Skeleton Warriors to make up the numbers. I have also added a few swords to the mix of Halberds, and a few bare heads, just to give a little more individuality.
On the horizon.
First regiment.
Second regiment.
Third regiment.
Regimental leaders.
Standard Bearers.
Musicians.
Halberdiers.
Shields.
Rear view.
Swordsmen.
I love the look of the Tomb Blades, and I was a little short of Halberds as some of the Tomb Guard were e-Bay purchases, and so I thought it would be fine and look ok to mix a few in.
A couple of the recently promoted Skeleton Warriors. Tucked in the regiments, and with Tomb Guard bits they don't really look out of place.
Finecast Liche.
I like the miniature, but it's a shame it is Finecast.
Bone Giant.
I really liked the Bone Giants when they were first released I loved their style and sculpting, and they were a scary opponent for enemies in the first incarnation of the Tomb Kings Army book. I used to field two when I could, causing mayhem. Later I think they were a little overshadowed by the Necrosphinx. Still, I enjoyed painting them and love the miniatures, and I am happy with how they both turned out.
Rear view.
The second Bone Giant.
Rear view.
Close up of the detailing of the Bone Giant.
One of the things I am  slightly pleasantly surprised about with the painting technique I am using for the army is how well the muted dry brushing is bringing out the superb detailing of some of the Tomb Kings miniatures. I am a fan of the 'less is more' painting approach and it is quite rewarding to see how playing with basic highlighting is transpiring.
Two Regiments of Skeleton Archers.
These form a sizable portion of the foot soldiers I have another regiment of 20 to paint, and also have Khalida's regiment of 40 archers already painted, giving me a 100 Archers (well 99 really plus Khalida). 
First Regiment.
Second Regiment.
A few of the archers.
Rear view.

Next month with be more Tomb Kings. I am determined to keep going and finish this project. There are a lot of them, with 200 Skeleton Warriors, 21 Chariots, another Necrosphinx, another Warsphinx, Necropolis Knights, Tomb Scorpions, Catapults, and of course Sterra himself (to name just a few things!)


Saturday 29 October 2022

A mixed selection of Tomb Kings painting.

  I have been carrying on with my Tomb Kings painting, and have been painting at quite a rate, even despite working, etc. In addition to what I have painted here, I have also painted 60 Tomb Guard, a Necrosphinx, two WarSphinxes, and I  have nearly finished 20 more Archers! I want to update on those in more detail and shall do so in a later blog post.

For now, here are the random odds and ends, and 40 archers. I have really been enjoying painting these, and they do look effective. I have been slightly distracted by another couple of side projects, but will be focusing on completing the Tomb Kings. Even at this rate I doubt if I will be finished before Christmas as it is a large army, and a lot of the Skeleton infantry require gluing.

Enjoy :)

Prince Apophas.
Converted Liche Priest.
I swapped his left arm for the a metal Tomb Kings one, and the right arm for a plastic skeleton one.
Side/rear view.
Ushabti with Great Weapon.
This one is a Fine Cast model, but the rest of my Ushabti with Great Weapons are metal.
Rear view.
Ushabti with Great Bows.
I really like these miniatures, and it was sad that they were only available in Fine Cast, of which I am not a fan.
Ushabti with Great Bow.
Ushabti with Great Bow.
Ushabti with Great Bow.
Necrotect.
This particular model, again a Fine Cast. He was, quite unsurprisingly, broken when I bought him from e-Bay second hand, missing his sword blade. I have replaced it with a Tomb Guard blade, which I think looks a lot better.
Rear view.

Queen Khalida's archer regiment.
I have painted this regiment with green bows, quivers, and headdresses, to match the green details of Khalida, and to give them a slightly separate identity from the rest of the army.
Queen Khalida herself.
It was only after paint stripping her and repainting her that I realised how much of a lovely miniature she is.

Next update will be more Tomb Kings!