Death Guard WIP: Pandemic (updated Jan 21 - fully painted Obliterator unit)

[battledaemon]

What happening on the 15th? Just look at it little at a time...

Oh and 1000th post whoo!

[Svartmetall]

Bloody hell...1,000 replies!



I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone who's given me feedback and support through the first year or so of my modelling, it's been a great boost to me even after I beat the depression. Knowing that I'm going to have to show what I've been coming up with to the denizens of this place has certainly been one factor in me continuing to drive myself to up my game, and constantly try to improve whatever it is that I'm working on at the time.


EDIT: to celebrate 1,000 posts, I have posted the first segment of Pandemic fiction here: Incursion, Part 1: Signs and Portents

[Exetus]

That's what happens when you mix your awesome green stuff skills and an imagination to go with it that has truly made your Nurgle army one of the most ridiculously awesome ones I've ever seen. To cap it off, your painting gets better and better and, as a result, your army gets more and more disgustingly putrescent and Nurglefied... keep it up, cuz we're all nauseated by your Death Guard! lol.

[Tinweasel]

God knows how I'm going to get the Dreadnought done in time.

Same way you got the rest done, chief. Progressively lighter drybrushing with progressively lighter colors and progressively darker shading washes increasingly more sparingly applied to progressively deeper shaded areas. Basecoat and drybrush/highlight metallics, etc., tidy up details, slather on the base covering, and it's a done deal.

[Svartmetall]

posting from work

Same way you got the rest done, chief...

Aye, true; I know what to do for the Dreadnought, I'm just concerned about having enough time to get it done. The reason for the January 15th deadline will be revealed soon enough This afternoon I got all the pre-washes-and-inks highlighting and shading done on the skin of Squad Pestis, and am hoping to start on the metals when I get back tonight, probably the shoulderpads. I hate doing the edging on shoulderpads...dunno what it is, completely irrational dislike time.

[Svartmetall]

Almost there; the 50-hour work week is an utter, utter nightmare and seems to be leaving me with almost no time to work on modelling, but I've managed to make some progress nevertheless. Here's Pestis with all metals & metal weathering, skin layering, bone, horns and skulls done. Just the washes & inks to go now (the rust is getting done on all the models together, at the very end)...






I want to do the washes & inks on flesh and armour at the same time, so I can keep a better grip on where the overall colour palette of the model is (as opposed to doing one in abstraction then it not matching or balancing with the rest).

[Atritas]

They all look very good, although... The white robes seem kind of unfitting to me. Is it just a temporary color for them? It seems too pristine at the moment.

[widowmakers]

Absolutely superb GS work.

[Svartmetall]

Is it just a temporary color for them?

Yes, they're getting washed and inked too.

I also got inspired this afternoon, and have produced the second part of the 'Incursion' story here: Shrouded Intentions, Hidden Rewards

[Nightlife]

Looking very nice svart! This is going to be one hell of an army, haven't seen anything quite like it.

[misterjustin]

I just got back from holiday and am very, very happy to see that you got so much painting done on the army. It's really coming together now, isn't it.

[Svartmetall]

posting from the hell that is work

I got pretty much all the ink and wash work finished on Pestis today - been working flat out - but didn't have time to take pics before I had to come to work (10.5 hour shifts SUCK) - I'll take & post pics when I get home tonight....

[Sethero]

Papa Nurgle must be pleased with your progress Svart. This is one of those armies I love to watch coming together... your sculpting skills are downright scary, evne more so once you get paint on there.

Keep up the great work... and get Pestis posted already!

[Commissar_Jalil]

Just to reiterate, compare these to these. If I could only have one squad, I'd choose the latter, even at this stage, just because it shows off the incredible GS. Keep it up Svart, and don't let the workweek drag you down.

[widowmakers]

Officially I can't praise the works of Chaos but if I were to do such a heinous and evil act I would, theoretically, be holding up 5 out of five fingers on one hand.

[Svartmetall]

Finally my camera behaved itself ...here, at long last, are shots of the finished Squad Pestis:






Unit shot:


As always, all C&C is welcomed; I'm pleased with how they look (they look better in the flesh than how my camera is making them look, honest) but there's always room to improve what you're doing. I want my next Plague Terminators to be better than the current crop, and the same goes for my Plague Marines, Chosen or in fact anything I do. Keep pushing me



And now: ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!

*cheesy fanfare*

Here's the reason why I've been working so hard over the last month or two to get all these guys painted up and ready for the Jan 15th deadline I mentioned: my Nurgle army has been chosen to go on display in the Warhammer World museum at Games Workshop's HQ

Proof, from the exhibition list on the upcoming WHW flyer:


I am really fucking psyched about this. To get your work in the WHW museum at all is good going, but to get your first ever army in there is a real achievement. Sorry...I'm taking a moment to pat myself on the back about this I went in there today and was interviewed about this army and my approach to modelling as a whole, and that should apparently be turning up on the WHW website soon.


Now I feel like I've really achieved something with my modelling, like all the work I've put in has produced a real and tangible result; I suspect I'll never be satisfied with my work, but right now I'm certainly happy.

And now it's official - I have a diseased imagination


_____

[Telliphas]

I am really fucking psyched about this - and rightly so buddy.

*continues patting Svarts back* Bloody nice going there Svart, thats one hell of an achievement getting them displayed in WHW, even more so as its your first army. A fountain...no...no a waterfall of GS talent. If this is what your able to do now, damn what the hell are your mini's going to look like a year or so?

Kudo's again Svart, outstanding work and a pleasure to see Pandemic grow. Keep em coming.

I suspect I'll never be satisfied with my work. I'd be more than satisfied if my mini's looked like anything you have produced mate. You should be proud of them all.

[Master222]

Your army shows in 100% how nurgle boys should look! Congratulations... although I had no idea such museum even exists xD

[Winterdyne]

Woooo! Nice one! Having seen your stuff at WHW the other week, it's deserved!

[Avatar 720]

Nice shots, and gratz on getting your stuff into WHW *kicks self for not being good enough yet* =P

Just one thing, is the rust done on pestis? the weapons seem quite new, excuse me if I've missed anything, but it's just me =P

[BLUE_ICE8822]

*Pats Svart on the back* Funky tastic!!

Don't you sometimes wish you could adjust your camera to be just right?
I'm sure the pics don't do them justice. And they look so damn fantastic already!

[Commissar_Jalil]

*joins the queue for back patting*

If the 1000 replies drooling over your work wasn't enough proof that you do great t=yet terrible things to models, consider this professional critique of your awesomosity.

I'll second the question about the weapons, though; don't want you overlooking something and busting out last minute work on your way to the WHW. (Although the idea is funny. I could see you frantically painting on the bus, a little old lady looks down at what you're working on and grips her handbag even tighter. )

[Civik]

Dude, svart, that's awesome. I hope the event goes well and that you get primo placement in the museum.

[Ceasar409]

Also joins queue for back patting

That is just fantastic for you Svart and for a first army that is just great. (Just imagine your second army and what that would look like).
Just out of curiosity what would your second army be, something not nurgle related or a Deamons of Chaos Nurgle army, or not even a second army and just ever expand Pandemic.

[Sir Clausel]

Well I could not see why you dont deserve that! Its an impressive army! Gratz

[Dark Angel N00b]

Great news! I was planning a trip to WHW soon, I may just make it one of the dates your disgusting display is on show

Awesome work, you didnt need me to tell you that though.

[SocietySoldier]

just read your last update!
congrats man!

[Fish Of Doom]

don't pat svart's back! it'll fall off!

many many congrats man! you totally deserve having your army exhibited, the sheer amount of work you've put into it is worthy of nurgly constitution!

[Svartmetall]

Thanks a lot guys And to those who asked, yes, I still have to do the rust (sleep? Hah! Who needs sleep?)

Here's the current state of play on Vvornth:



More when I have it...

Oh wait - I need sleep

*thunk*

[Richter]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh *shudders* sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet


Gratz on WHW!!

[Mormoran]

Man, that's awesome painting and modeling! and congratulations on your presentation! ... but pleeeeaaaase move Jaws a little further inside that shelf, the base tip is on the air, and it makes me nervous, he's one of my favorites (after Vvornth of course!!!)

[Supernaut]

Every time I visit this thread I am more and more impressed, seriously great work. I wouldn't be surprised if GW offered you a job at some point.

[widowmakers]

svart the dread is phenominal...but his shin guards look so bland....

also, what did you use to extend his battlefist fingers into those sharp claws?

[Svartmetall]

posting from the hell that is work

but his shin guards look so bland...

There's a patch of very fine GS on one of them, but it's not clear in those photos; plus I wanted some flatter areas on him to give some textural contrast to the fine detail. If I encrusted the entire surface of the model in detail it would turn into just noise, if you see what I mean - I wanted to make sure Vvornth had variety overall. It's the same with pictures, there needs to be a focus; for example if you have a battle scene with just tons of figures all over the place it's just a mess, there needs to be composition and areas of focus to draw the eye.

Also, what did you use to extend his battlefist fingers into those sharp claws?

They're the tips of the large ram spikes from the Chaos Vehicle Spiky sprue.

[Mormoran]

I agree with the shin guards thing, perhaps some little battle damage? They look way too new for such and old character :O

[Svartmetall]

posting from the hell that is work

Just realised I missed a few other people's questions...

Just out of curiosity what would your second army be, something not Nurgle related or a Deamons of Chaos Nurgle army, or not even a second army and just ever expand Pandemic.

A bit of both - I'm certainly planning to make an all-Nurgle Daemons army (ohh, the fun I'm going to have converting a Plague Grinder of doom), maybe a 2,000-pointer or so; I could combine that with Pandemic for 5,000 points of Nurgly goodness for Apocalypse games However, I suspect that whatever else I end up doing I'll always be expanding and/or improving upon Pandemic - the Death Guard will always be my 'home base' when it comes to this hobby. I'm already certain I can make better Plague Terminators than the ones I already have, and once I get time (hah! As soon as this lot are in the WHW museum I have to start work on my entry for the conversion competition, which I haven't had time to even start yet) I'll have a crack at some more of them...and more Possessed for sure...and more Spawn and Marines...a Nurgle Daemon Prince...*gibber*

I knew pretty much from the time I opened my first box of minis that I'd end up a fully paid-up convertaholic, so I suspect things like Necrons and Ultras are very unlikely for me; they're fine, but I just couldn't go nuts enough with them for it to satisfy me. I could see Orks being fun, though, there's always the chance to make some crazy stuff with those guys and you can just let your imagination run riot. If I went Loyalist Marine it'd probably have to be Space Wolves (I like my beer too much to be any other chapter), and I'd go all out on the 'Vikings in space' thing with hair, beards, axes, Celtic-style knotwork on weapons & armour etc. Maybe the Legion Of The Damned would allow me to do converty Marine stuff, too...hmm...I don't know much about them though. Realistically, I suspect Chaos will always be home base for me; I just flat out love the lore and fluff surrounding the Traitor Legions, and the freedom you have when modelling them.

I have a few ideas for WFB stuff I'd be interested to try, too, although oddly enough most of it is Nurgle I have some nice ideas already for a Fantasy Sorceror of Nurgle...

I agree with the shin guards thing, perhaps some little battle damage? They look way too new for such and old character :O

There actual are some dug-in bolt-round holes on them, but again they don't show up so well in that photo; there's also a patch of thin fleshy stuff and some scored marks. I dislike over-done battle damage, it always looks silly to me when I see a model with armour that's damaged to the point where it would seriously impair its functionality. There's no way any artificer worth his salt would leave it in that condition, and while Chaos may be crazy they're not stupid...their bodies may be corrupted to hell and back, sure, but as I've said before they'll always keep their wargear in fighting trim. They may not exactly polish it to a sparkling lustre, but it'll work, and I want the way the models look to reflect that.

I wouldn't be surprised if GW offered you a job at some point

Well, I wouldn't say no


_____

[Exetus]

I think that somewhere along the way, we all realized that this was turning into something special (somewhere REALLY EARLY in the mix) and have all watched this thread continue on with fascination at the breadth and scope of your project and have seem some fantastic converting that is right up there with the great stuff you catch in White Dwarf, some of it far greater.

I think it's fantastic that GW and WHW have decided to honor you in this great fashion and I can only say that I'm proud and privileged to have seen this project from the start, something that all of us here at the forums can enjoy, knowing we've been there from the start! Congratulations, man!

[Richter]

Nurgle Daemon Prince.....

You do that and I'll consider you a god....

[Commissar_Jalil]

Oh man, could you imagine if Pandemic was written into 40k? I have one internet saying Svart would shit kittens. Too bad they recently got an update... Typhus looking down on the nurgly goodness, saying 'eww... this is too gross for me, i'm outie!'

[Svartmetall]

*wipes sweat from brow*
Here's where I am with Vvornth now:



I need to do the washes and inks on the skin next, and then it's just some final armour wash lowlighting before I can start on the rust for Vvornth and all the others...

Nurgle Daemon Prince.....

You do that and I'll consider you a god

Heh, I already have the model that's going to serve as the basis for the DP on a shelf ready...

[Hammerguard]

I just hate artistic people soooooooooo much.

Just kidding, that Dread has got to be the pick of the bunch, and it takes something to pick a particular model out of what you've shown here.

Just for inspiration this and this could help.............


.............. not that you need it.

/Grumble. Bloody artists.

[Winterdyne]

GW often write in stuff they like. I can see Pandemic being adopted into fluff. Get the writers in Bugmans or the Trip and you're sorted.

[Richter]

Pandemic in the fluff! Hell yes!! Its totally worthy, no doubt about it!!

[PaTMAN]

finally after viewing the whole damn thread, i have decided to add my congratulations on your GS work, it is easily the greatest modelling achievement i have seen, your skill in this medium is phenomenemenmenmenol, but i would suggest in future, stick to sculpting, or find someone to paint your minis for you. i fully understand the normal 'first army' blues in painting, i still look back on my orks and laugh, hopefully my vostroyans will be better, but it seems a shame in this case, as your conversions are beyond the extra mile, they are the extra light year.

drybrushing is one of the most simple, easy and effective skills in warhammer, but it is nothing special to all those suggesting he applies to the eavy metal team, im sorry, but they are so far in front they are in several different leagues.

some tips i can recommend in future, that can help nooobs, those who cant paint to an outstanding level, or want to just convert minis, and use painting to actually use the models are

a) break up the scheme! dont think that drybrushing the WHOLE model a uniform green qualifies for elite-painting-as-a-job level. utilize many colours, create techniques to cover all the bases, ie flesh technique, gorey guts, trim, etc.

b) DETAIL!!!!!! this relates to the first in that painting the whole model one colour detracts from the beautifullly vile conversions. all the sculpt (or whats left of it) is hidden in a sea of distasteful green and bone. pick out all the little things that make the model., trim on weapons, skulls on weapons, ganglia should not be a uniform colour, but at least make it a different coolour from the armour.

c) neatness above all. neatness, and an even coverage is essential, you should water down your paints, and go the distance in several coats per layer, to make the skin in particular look solid, and realisic, as apposed to a messy mess of colours that have no determinable realistic shades in the recesses. AND PAINT THE EYES MAN!!!!!

sorry if im a bit harsh, but your conversions and sculpting ability is worthy of the golden demon slayer sword, and the painting detracts from that, and i felt that a lot of people were going to far in misguided praise to a first timer.

and i apolgise for all this, for a first time noob it is an absolutely first rate, top of the hill effort, this is just for future improvement, but i can safely say you are no longer a noob. keep working on it you bloody modelling lord of patience lord of nurgle.

also CONGRATS FROM DEEP IN MY HEART ON BEATING DEPRESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is a severe malady and very few have the strength of mind to overcome its subsequent effects, i am proud without even knowing you that you did not let it stifle your growing talent

[Richter]

I'll add to the congrats on beating depression. Very few do have the strength, and i aint one of them.

But one bet if i had skills like svart, i would have beaten it months ago!!

[SilverTabby]

PaTMAN: No-one's suggesting the 'Eavy Metal team. The sculpting team on the other hand...

Painting isn't something you pick up overnight. I've got 15 years experience painting miniatures, and can safely say I got this far by patience and practise. Svart's leap in skill across the last 6-8 months has been great, and will only get better with practise. I keep bugging him to make something I can paint for him...

[Tinweasel]

As for myself (not to sound snooty or anything), I've been keeping relatively mum on chiming in on the thread with tips and suggestions. I kinda figgered something like an offer to have them on display might happen (I mean he lives/works in Nottingham, hangs out and works on his minis at Warhammer World/GW headquarters, and really is fielding an impressive-looking army...) but if I'd keep suggesting stuff to add/fix painting-wise - and I've really been grinding my teeth to keep my mouth shut - then he'd get bogged down in details on each and every single mini and never finish a more-than-respectable-looking force as he's currently (almost) got.

@ PaTMAN - I'd probably be one of the first to say that the painting on these guys could definitely be better (sorry, Svart.) The flip side of that, though, is that he's picked relatively good-covering colors, has a coherent scheme, and drybrushed or not, the figures overall look very solid - especially when seen en masse. There's also the bonus that weathering and rusting effects can cover a multitude of sins and still make things look good if done well. Plus, he's got an army he can actually use (if so inclined, as opposed to getting 'em put on display in lah-de-dah Warhammer f'ing World of all places - *thbbbbt*), which is a damn sight more than I can say in the 3 years I've been back at painting and have focused my attention on higher-end finished appearance. (Although there's awards to be had in that sort of thing, too, I'm told...)

Hell, I'd love painting up something he's converted/sculpted, but I've never asked and he's never offered. Maybe now that he'll have a bit more time on his hands but still need something to keep his mind occupied so as not to slip... *nudge nudge wink wink*


I'll definitely give credit to Svart, too - working your way out of a depressive state is a hard trek on a very uphill climb. (Hey, maybe my several diagnoses and Svart's issues can get together and do lunch - and then mutually strangle each other or something so we don't have to worry about 'em again!)

[Winterdyne]

Having seen the minis in the flesh:

The paintwork is not the problem you might think it to be. It's *Very* thin, and doesn't obscure any detail. Svart has not fallen into the newbie thick-paint trap. Most criticisms (contrast, sharpening detail) can be overcome by good wash and glaze work and some detail work, all stuff that can easily be done later. The base colours are good and solid without obscuring anything.

And Svart, I'll join the queue of people wishing they could paint some of your stuff, mate.

[Tinweasel]

@ Svartmetall - I can't vouch for anyone else, but let me make myself perfectly, emphatically clear: YOU DO NOT NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR PAINTING (now). THE FIGURES YOU HAVE PAINTED LOOK GOOD AND SHOW OFF YOUR SCULPTING EXCELLENTLY. DON'T PANIC! (I repeat: in case you missed the annoying capital letter text, chill the hell out, you perfectionistic A-hole, before you get your panties in a bunch and bust a blood vessel! There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the work you have sculpted or painted thus far and are planning on putting on display!!11!1!!)

I, personally, was stating the fact (at least this is how I intended it come across, but I have Asperger's so pretty much every compliment I ever give sounds like a f'ing death sentence being read) that your sculpting is excellent and the current paint jobs work nicely to show it off. The painting is very Nurgly, it looks good, it coordinates, it has good contrast between light and dark and is by no means a monochromatic scheme, and it seems to have carried itself nicely across all the solid quality figures you've posted thus far. PERIOD.


This has been a public service announcement by The Management for one of our regular Members of whom we are all very proud. Please do not be alarmed. You may now return to your previously (un)scheduled Forum perusal...

[Svartmetall]

Ehh, ignore me, I'm just completely mentally & physically exhausted and panicking at the moment...

EDIT: And I'd deleted the somewhat rant-y panic post that Tin was responding to by the time he finished posting it. My head asplode....pics of the finished-apart-from-the-rust Vvornth in the next hour or two.