[WFB] Sam's Chaos Dwarfs, Forgeworlding it up Options Rating

[Eudaimon]

Right, so about time I started a new army I thought, having had my fill for the time being of single miniature painting and Malifaux, and what better way than to look to the army that was almost my very first, Chaos Dwarfs.

I loved the idea of the Chaos Dwarfs when I first got into fantasy, the big creatures of Chaos, the magic, the stoutness of the dwarfs, all seemed to add up. Unfortunately they didn't have a proper army book, just a "White Dwarf Presents" (this was 4th ed folks) so regular dwarfs became my first army.

Now, much like Dr. Sam Beckett, I have the chance to put right what once went wrong, praise Hashut!

I have never really used lots of resin minis before - just a handful from a limited number of ranges, so this will be my first adventure into a resin army, which is nice. I decided to go for a bright red colour scheme for the dwarfs, with a darker, muted lava base. Here are my first models....



This picture shows my patented red technique. I started by using the Citadel Spray Gun to undercoat the model Hot Orange (a vallejo colour). Next I use a series of Citadel washes, from Baal Red, Ogre Flesh, Devlan Mud and eventually Badab Black, to bring the colour back to a deep red.

Having completed that, I went over with black on the bits that would be black or metal, and started with another Hot Orange highlight. The model on the right in the pic above is at that stage, but the model on the left has also had an Orange Fire highlight too.



In this picture, the dwarf on the left now has a pale flesh fine highlight, to really bring out the colour. All that remained then was to highlight the black bits (through Sombre Grey and Ghost Grey), and to get some evil looking metal. Most people make evil weaponary rusty, but not the Chaos Dwarfs! Instead, it is a dark metal, with a bright edge highlight.







The lava base was done with Tierra Earth followed by a drybrush of Plague Brown, and a coat of Badab Black. The lava itself was as simple as Red, Orange, Yellow and white highlights (or lowlights in this case).

Finally a group shot. I have 20 done now, and boy will those things NOT rank up. Harrump indeed, praise Hashut for the sturdiness of the Dawi-Zharr!



Comment and questions happily received!

[Mitey]

The red looks really vibrant and striking mate, I'd love to see some more models!
A color offset might help bring out other details such as a Hawk Turqoiuse for a few details? I really like the look thus far.

[Eudaimon]

That is a great point - I was going to keep the hawk turquoise for the command group, as the grunts don't have many details to pick out, but maybe I will give it a go on the weapon grip?

[Mitey]

Could always try it in the beard on the hair ties and see how that looks for you.

[Eudaimon]

I thought about the beard ties for something, but I think it would be more of a distraction to the figure against the black of the beard. For me an spot/accent colour has to be just that, a spot. The ties are too numerous and I think would make the minis too busy.

I will mock one up with beard ties and weapon grip accented, and get your thoughts.

This post has been edited by Eudaimon: Feb 15 2012, 10:11 AM

[Mr X]

Totally subscribed.
I've been waiting for someone to do a Chaos Dwarf army after the book came out (I pre-ordered it). I wish I could do one myself to have epic stand offs with my dwarf army.
I'm keen to see what you do for things like hobgoblins, bull centaurs and k'daai.

[Wombats]

They look amazing.

It does look like it needs another colour, if only to contrast the really nicely done red.

Buggered if I know what, though.

[marius]

Nice looking chaos dwarves Sam.

[Baneful]

Looking great. Love these models.

[Jimbo81]

saw your miniatures and this song came in to my head:

If you want my love you got it.
When you need my love you got it.
I wont hide it.
I wont throw your love away, oo.

If you want my love you got it.
When you need my love you got it.
I wont hide it.
I wont throw your love away, oo.

Yes, I thought you were a mystery girl,
A special girl in this crazy old world.
You couldnt see me when I laid eyes on you.

cause lonely is only a place.
You dont know what its like...
You cant fight it.
Its a hole in my heart, in my heart.

If you want my love you got it.
When you need my love you got it.
I wont hide it.
I wont throw your love away, oo.

You hold the secrets of love in this world.
Im hypnotized by your evry word.
A special face, a special voice,
A special smile in my life.

cause lonely is only a place.
You dont know what its like...
You cant fight it.
Its a hole in my heart, in my heart.

If you want my love you got it.
When you need my love you got it.
I wont hide it.
I wont throw your love away, ooh.

If you want my love you got it.
When you need my love you got it.
I wont hide it.
I wont throw your love away, ooh.

If you want my love you got it.
When you need my love you got it.
You wont hide it.
You wont throw your love away, ooh.

[Mr_Roy]

They look good as always Sam.

My advice on the contrasting colour would be to paint the symbols on the shields bronze, gold or silver instead of black.

[Eudaimon]

Jimbo - not sure if I have been rickrolled (or chat board equivalent there) but I will take it.

Roy, I am willing to be persuaded otherwise, but theoretically, I think those colours would be too complimentary and not give the desired effect.

Anyway, I mocked up the hawk turquoise on the beard and the grip as follows. As expected, I think it is too busy in the beard, but on the grip is a subtle touch that I quite like, what do you think?







This post has been edited by Eudaimon: Feb 15 2012, 09:33 PM

[Mitey]

I really dig the hawk turquoise look mate, but at the end of the day you're the one painting them, so you should make sure you're happy with the look of them too.

[Hoodling]

I'll be following this one. I've been realising that there is a real lack of WFB painting blogs on here. Don't know why, but even games with a far smaller following get a lot more love in this area of the forums...

Looks like a great start to the army.

What can you do about them not ranking up? Is it just a matter of planning ahead with the next wave of models, or are they designed in such a way that they simply don't fit on their bases?

In terms of the turquoise, I like it on the weapon grip, but I'm not sure about the beard ties. I might have gone for a bronze or something there, and leave it to the command models to strengthen the turquoise for the regiment as a whole. Just my opinion.

[marius]

Hmm, not a fan of the turquise in the beard. I agree that bronze would probably look better.

Any reason why the beards are all the same colour?

[Eudaimon]

@ Greg - the models are massive for their bases. They are actually multi-multi part kits, arms are seperate to hands and to the body. They way they fit together means that most of them are in a "come on then" pose with arms out wide. With the weapon and shields, they just won't fit on a 20mm base.

You can rank them up if you are willing to number them and have some of the your models in funny facings, but I think I prefer slight gaps in the ranks, a bigger movement tray, and the theoretical 20mm base size to cover gaps.

@ The silent ninja - They are Chaos Dwarfs!! All Chaos Dwarfs have black beards cos they are black hearted. Tsk Tsk.

I think I will stick with my gut and put turquoise only on the grip as an accent, and as you say Greg, keep the command models to accentuate the turquoise. I will make a mock-up of bronze beard tassles and bronze in the shield emblem to see how it goes.

[marius]

Hmm.

If I was to do them (or have them done) and they're really the only fantasy army that is inspiring at the moment, it would actually be a reverse of your scheme. Black armour with orange or red beards. Evil gingers we all know they have no soul).

[Gulpix]

Great painting once more Sam.

I'm also voting for the turquoise only on the grip.

And for the beards I would try to give them some "gleam" (not sure this is the correct word but I hope you'll get what I mean) with dark colors like blue, purple, brown,... . But still keeping them a black base and black look from far.

Cheers,
Benoit

[Mathusela]

They look great Sam! Really liking the orangey/red armour.

To me the beard looks too busy with so many green hairties. I wonder if you could pick out a single line of them going straight down? Then the beard isnt too busy and you've got something to balance out the turquiose handle.

[JPM]

Like it Sam, nice, simple and effective colour scheme

Looking forward to seeing war machines and monsters.