Skaven Poisoned Wind Mortar Step-by-Step painting guide.

*Squeek*

The Poisoned Wind Mortar is another of those crazy Clan Skryre inventions that any self-respecting Warlord just has to love...

Firstly, it seems like it must be almost as lethal to the team using it (and their comrades) as the enemy themselves. Its also easy to mentally picture the two crew nervously loading and firing this thing from the relative safety of (behind) a large unit, all the while worrying about a misfire, a dropped mortar shell or the whole mortar exploding! (I also like to imagine the accompanying Clan Rat unit waiting expectantly to see mortar shells flying over their heads towards the rapidly approaching enemy, only to turn around to find the two operators arguing heatedly about who gets to fire and who gets to load!)

Having posted my Warpfire Thrower guide, I noted that it wouldn't be difficult to quickly throw up a similar guide for the Poisoned Wind Mortar as many of the colours and steps used were the same. While many of the steps and colours below are the same, I still hope that this will prove useful! (More pics below the guide.)

1. Assembly.

• File down or carefully cut away any flash from the model.
• Glue to base.

2. 1st Basing.

• Paint watered-down PVA glue to the base.
• Dip base into modelling sand
• Shake away excess and leave to dry

3. Undercoat.

• Undercoat whole model Chaos Black (I use GW Spray paint.)

4. Drybrush base.

• Calthan Brown.
• Snakebite Leather

5. Basecoat.

Apply base colours to all parts of the model:

EDIT: Following the launch of the latest Citadel Paint range in 2012, please note that the colours listed below are from the previous range. I hope to have time to rewrite in the future, but for the time being, you can use the conversion chart/ list I made here or use the official Citadel Conversion chart here.

• Boltgun Metal: Metal bands and pipes on the mortar and backpack containing the poisoned wind globe, rim/ band on support wheel, symbol on mortar.
• Red Gore: Robes.
• Tallarn Flesh: Skin, tail etc.
• Dwarf Bronze: Mortar, mortar valve (by operator's hand), gas mask "nose".
• Dark Angels Green: Pipes, Poisoned Wind mortar globes, shard of warpstone by front operator's back foot, gas mask eyes.
• Codex Grey: Weapon team hoods and gas masks.
• Bestial Brown or Calthan Brown: backpack containing poisoned wind globe.
• Snakebite Leather: Leather shoulder straps on backpack, weapon team gloves, belts.

6. Layers.

• Robes: Red Gore/ Blood Red (50/50 Mix), then Red Gore/ Blood Red (25/75 mix) and finally Blood Red.
• Mortar Pipes: Snot Green/ Dark Angels Green 50/50 mix, then Snot Green.
• Warpstone Shard: Snot Green/ Dark Angels Green 50/50 mix.
• Poisoned Wind Globes: Stripe with lines of Snot Green, then a few more lines of Snot Green/ Skull White (75/ 25)
• Gas mask eyes: Snot green, then Snot Green/ Skull White mix (50/50). Finally add a tiny spot of white a the top of each eye.

7. Washes.

• Skin, Tail/ Ears, feet: Ogryn Flesh.
• Robes/ Gas mask hoods: Devlan Mud.
• Poison Wind Mortar: Devlan Mud
• Warpstone shard: Thrakka Green

8. Drybrushing.

• Mortar (Bronze parts): Light drybrushing of Dwarf Bronze on edges.
• Mortar (Boltgun Metal parts): Light drybrushing of Chainmail on edges.

9. Highlights.

• Edges of any parts done in Boltgun Metal: Boltgun Metal OR Chainmail.
• Edge of mortar barrel: Chainmail OR Dwarf Bronze as appropriate.
• Skin/ Tail/ Ears: Tallarn Flesh/ Dwarf Flesh (50/50 mix)

10. Verdigris (Optional)

This is the light blue patina that you see on old statues or layers of bronze in museums or exposed to the elements. Having this will add an additional sense of age to any bronze parts. Please note, if you haven't done this before, experiment first, as if you get it wrong this is the last stage of the model, so it may be difficult to correct...

• Heavily water down GW Ice Blue. You'll have to experiment to find the right consistency, but I would say 1 part paint to between 7 and 10 parts water. It should be watery enough that you can wipe away WITHOUT leaving a stain. (Very important so you can correct mistakes if necessary!)
• Carefully paint onto any bronze parts where Verdigris would naturally appear so that it gathers. See "bluish" areas on photos below on the mortar. (recessed areas between bronze parts.)
• Quickly take a tissue, fold to a point, and dab away any excess, so it is left gathered around the parts mentioned above.
• Leave remainder to dry. (Be patient!)
• HINT: Only add Verdigris to one area at a time so you have time to wick or dab away excess before it dries. Don't add to ALL bronze parts on the whole model at the same time! E.g. Do the Bronze top of the mortar, then wipe away. Then do another bit, then wipe away. Then do the... you get the picture!

11. Varnishing (Optional)

I wanted to add a "Glassy" effect to the Poisoned Wind globes to make them stand out (I don't use varnish anywhere else in my army) and because I wasn't happy with the "Gas" effect on the globes themselves. In the end, I think that this very simple use of varnish actually works well and makes the globes really stand out!

• Poisoned Wind Globes: GW 'ardcoat was evenly applied.
• Gas mask eyes: GW 'ardcoat was added to each eye.

12. Final Basing

• Dab on a couple of spots of PVA glue.
• Dip in flock.
• Shake away excess and leave to dry.

Done!

Here's the finished Poisoned Wind Mortar, ready to dissolve and gas the enemy!

Hope you find this useful!

*Squeek*

New Terrain: Dreadstone Blight and Witchfate Tor - Tower of Sorcery!

*Squeek*

Games Workshop recently released two new items of terrain for Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Witchfate Tor. Tower of Sorcery and Dreadstone Blight.

These releases were naturally accompanied by an article in the most recent edition of White Dwarf available at the time of writing (WD371 November 2010).

As well as the usual promotion, the 8 page article includes ideas for using both of these items and a nicely done diorama.

Games Workshop is doing their usual good job of promoting and supporting this release on their website. You'll find a blog article with some good pictures of these items still wrapped, as well being assembled, and the two items compared side by side (my only gripe being that they should have shown them next to a mini to give a sense of scale - see below for a pic that does that.) They also have two new articles in the Astronomican on them, one of which is a nicely detailed and well photographed step-by-step painting guide for Witchfate Tor.
Say what you like about GW, their team does a good job with the photography and this kind of support!

Now, here on The Chattering Horde I haven't really posted anything on terrain yet as so far, as most of my posts have been related to getting my Skaven army painted, however I HAD to mention these two new kits as I am a big fan of high quality scenery in general, whoever it is produced by (as well as kit-bashed terrain, but that is a post for a different time!)
So, lets take a look at these kits. (Please note that all images are reproduced from www.games-workshop.com, and that I have no official connection to them and receive no payment etc!)

Witchfate Tor. Tower of Sorcery.


This looks to be a big kit (I can't find details on the GW website of the actual size). It also looks highly detailed and comes in the box in sections which freely stack on each other to make the tower.
Each level of the tower has lots of interior and exterior detail, including several places where models can be (precariously) balanced on the exterior of the tower. The GW website has several detailed photos, and I've taken the liberty of including those further below.
There are obviously lots of Gothic touches and repeated motifs on this piece that make it unmistakably "Empire" in feeling and design. (Winged angels of death, hooded statues, flaming comets etc.) While that isn't a bad thing of course, I expect that we will very shortly see some "remodeled" towers - remodeled by Orcs, Gobbos and other races I mean!
(Looking forward to that.)

Dreadstone Blight.


With a total of three floors, this mysterious and crumbling ruin is about half the size of Witchfate Tor. It differs in that while the Tor looks as though it could be a working Wizard's tower (with all the necessary fittings and fixtures - dripping candles, skulls etc.) Dreadstone Blight has obviously seen better days...
And THAT is why I think I like it better at the moment! Somewhat the ramshackle look and the different floors being open to the elements not only makes it more mysterious and evocative of the Warhammer world, but also improves its appeal as a functioning battlefield piece. Not owning these pieces, this may of course be totally unjustified of course.

Let's take a look at some more images.

Firstly, Dreadstone Blight. 

From www.games-workshop.com

From www.games-workshop.com

Secondly, Witchfate Tor. Tower of Sorcery.

From www.games-workshop.com

From www.games-workshop.com

From www.games-workshop.com

From www.games-workshop.com

From www.games-workshop.com
(Note size of tower next to units.)

From www.games-workshop.com

I think my Christmas wish list just got a little bit longer!

*Squeek*

Skaven Warpfire Thrower Step-by-Step Painting Guide

*Squeek*

I'm probably not the only Skaven Warlord that decided to start a Skaven army based on the access the minions of the Great Horned Rat have to weird and wacky war machines! See below for a guide and more pics...

One of the (many) excellent things about our hordes are the supporting vehicles and almost "Steampunk" home-brew weapons that can be found in almost any force...

...massive engines of destruction?
Check!
Deafen and madden your enemies with the Screaming Bell or stink them out or putrify them with the Plague Furnace or Plague Claw catapult.

...fast moving vehicles that slice, dice and "electri-fry?"
Check!
Courtesy of randomized greenish bolts of warplightning from your fast-moving, rodent-powered Doomwheel.

Now, as cool as those things are, let's not forget one more really cool thing the Skaven have...

...core-unit support?  

Check!

One Doomflayer sized serving of whirling chopping death comin' up (OR burn and gas'em with your Warpfire Throwers or Poison Wind Mortars.)

Now of course, all these items also have one glaring caveat...

...frequent failure due to poor build quality? (or sabotage?) 

Check...

:-(

But that is something that many people think adds to the dark humor of playing Skaven in the first place!

Onto the guide, which has taken some time to get done due to other things. Below you will find a simple Skaven Warpfire Thrower stage-by-stage guide with some big photos at the bottom (I'll post a guide to the Poison Wind Mortar in the next few days or so.) It is a while so I painted this, so this may not be exact, but you'll get the idea!

1. Assembly.

• File down or carefully cut away any flash from the model.
• Glue to base.

2. 1st Basing.

• Paint watered-down PVA glue to the base.
• Dip base into modelling sand
• Shake away excess and leave to dry

3. Undercoat.

• Undercoat whole model Chaos Black (I use GW Spray paint.)

4. Drybrush base.

• Calthan Brown.
• Snakebite Leather

5. Basecoat.

Apply base colours to all parts of the model:

EDIT: Following the launch of the latest Citadel Paint range in 2012, please note that the colours listed below are from the previous range. I hope to have time to rewrite in the future, but for the time being, you can use the conversion chart/ list I made here or use the official Citadel Conversion chart here.

• Boltgun Metal: Condenser pipes on Warpfire backpack. Nozzle and handle on warpfire thrower.
• Red Gore: Robes, flames on small rat that is on fire on the base.
• Tallarn Flesh: Skin, tail etc.
• Dwarf Bronze: Warpfire backpack top, chimney, skaven symbol. Bands on warpfire thrower.
• Dark Angels Green: Warpstone smoke.
• Codex Grey: Weapon team hoods.
• Bestial Brown or Calthan Brown: Wooden parts of Warpfire backpack.
• Vermin Brown or Bestial Brown: Fur.
• Snakebite Leather: Leather shoulder straps on backpack, weapon team gloves, belts.
• Bleached Bone: Nails on feet.

6. Layers.

• Robes: Red Gore/ Blood Red (50/50 Mix), then Red Gore/ Blood Red (25/75 mix) and finally Blood Red.
• Warpstone Smoke: Snot Green/ Dark Angels Green 50/50 mix, then progressively lighter mixes, working through Snot Green/ Skull White (50/50 then 50/25) and finally almost pure Skull White.
• Flames on Rat: Red Gore/ Blazing Orange Mix (75/25 then 50/50) Then add some yellow to that mix to get the tip of the flames.

7. Washes.

• Skin, Tail/ Ears, feet: Ogryn Flesh.
• Robes: Devlan Mud.
• Warpfire backpack: Devlan Mud
• Warpstone smoke: Thrakka Green

8. Drybrushing.

• Warpfire backpack (Wood parts): Drybrush slighter lighter shade of the basecoat brown (above)
• Warpfire backpack (Bronzed parts): Light drybrushing of Dwarf Bronze
• Warpfire thrower hose: Light drybrushing of Chainmail (just to bring out raised areas on hose.)
• Fur: Light drybrushing of lighter shade of the brown you used as a basecoat. 

9. Highlights.

• Edges of any parts done in Boltgun Metal: Boltgun Metal OR Chainmail
• Edge of warpfire weapon barrel: Chainmail OR Dwarf Bronze as appropriate
• Warpfire backpack edges of Bronzed parts: Dwarf Bronze
• Nails: Bleached Bone
• Skin/ Tail/ Ears: Tallarn Flesh/ Dwarf Flesh (50/50 mix)

10. Verdigris (Optional)

This is the light blue patina that you see on old statues or layers of bronze in museums or exposed to the elements. Having this will add an additional sense of age to any bronze parts. Please note, if you haven't done this before, experiment first, as if you get it wrong this is the last stage of the model, so it may be difficult to correct...

• Heavily water down GW Ice Blue. You'll have to experiment to find the right consistency, but I would say 1 part paint to between 7 and 10 parts water. It should be watery enough that you can wipe away WITHOUT leaving a stain. (Very important so you can correct mistakes if necessary!)
• Carefully paint onto any bronze parts where Verdigris would naturally appear so that it gathers. See "bluish" areas on photos below on the warpfire backpack and thrower nozzle. (recessed areas, around nails, buttons and joins between bronze parts.)
• Quickly take a tissue, fold to a point, and dab away any excess, so it is left gathered around the parts mentioned above.
• Leave remainder to dry. (Be patient!)
• HINT: Only add Verdigris to one area at a time so you have time to wick or dab away excess before it dries. Don't add to ALL bronze parts on the whole model at the same time! E.g. Do the Bronze top of the backpack, then wipe away. Then do the pipes, then wipe away. Then do the - you get the picture!

11. Final Basing

• Dab on a couple of spots of PVA glue.
• Dip in flock.
• Shake away excess and leave to dry.

Done!

Here's the finished Warpfire Thrower...

The observant among you will notice that the guide above closely follows those of the other Clan Skryre units I have done to date as the basic clan colours remain the same. (Warlock Engineer, Warplightning Cannon, Jezzails and Doomwheel.)

Hope you like it. Let me know what you think!

*Squeek*

Updated Warpfire Thrower and Poison Wind Mortar

*Squeek*

Following advice and comments from some of the fine Warlords who visited my Skaven Warpfire Thrower and Poison Wind Mortar Gallery, I have finally found some time to just add a bit of dirt and age to these two units.

Essentially all I did was add a layer of home-made Verdigris (heavily watered-down Ice Blue paint) to the brass areas of the equipment and follow this up with some carefully applied Devlan Mud. This has dulled them down a bit and made them look a bit dustier and not quite so bright. In reality, they now look duller than these photos show...

Before aging...

After aging...

Before aging...

After aging...

If you look closely, you can see how the ice blue paint has been left to collect around the edges and rims of the brass, while I used a folded tissue to gently wick away any excess. This is one reason why it is important if using a home-made wash to water it down properly. This makes it easy to wick away from areas where you don't want to leave a stain.

Now that I've got these two units to a point where I feel as though they are "Finished" I'll try to post a step-by-step guide in the next few days and add some more photos to the gallery. After that I'm going to have to buckle down to either doing another big unit...
...30-40 Slaves?
...40 Clanrats?
...20 Storm Vermin?

The list of models still to paint never ends for a horde army does it??
;-)

*Squeek!*

Grey Seer Stage-by-Stage Painting Guide

*Squeek*

Having completed my first Grey Seer, I posted a few pictures, but wanted to put up a stage-by-stage guide that I hope other new Skaven players will find useful. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of all the stages (one example being after layers but before washes...) but I think you'll get the general idea!

So here we go... (scroll down for finished pics at the end...)



EDIT: Following the launch of the latest Citadel Paint range in 2012, please note that the colours listed below are from the previous range. I hope to have time to rewrite in the future, but for the time being, you can use the conversion chart/ list I made here or use the official Citadel Conversion chart here.

1. Assembly.

• File down or carefully cut away any flash from the model.
• Glue to base.

2. 1st Basing.

• Paint watered-down PVA glue to the base.
• Dip base into modelling sand
• Shake away excess and leave to dry

3. Undercoat.

• Undercoat whole model Chaos Black (I use GW Spray paint.) 

NOTE: I was given this Grey Seer model by a gaming buddy, and it came without the original symbol on the staff, so I added the staff head from my bitz box...

4. Drybrush base.

• Calthan Brown.
• Snakebite Leather

5. Basecoat.

Apply base colours to all parts of the model.

• Boltgun Metal: Sword, helmet, base of staff.
• Tallarn Flesh: Hands, tail, feet.
• Dwarf Bronze: Staff symbol, guard on sword, talisman on chain, and chain.
• Bleached Bone: Skull on staff, horns on helmet, nails on hands/ feet, scrolls.
• Dark Angels Green: Sigil on sword, warpstone studs on robes.
• Fortress Grey: Fur.
• Bestial Brown: Staff, belt.
• Snakebite Leather: Leather pouch on belt, leather pouch on staff.
• Chainmail: Bolts on staff symbol.

6. Layers. (Before washes)

• Robes: Codex Grey/ Fortress Grey(50/50 Mix), then Codex Grey Fortress Grey (25/75 mix) and finally Fortress Grey with some Skull White (75/15 mix).
• Leather/ Leather Pouches: Snakehide Leather/ Skull White (50/50 mix)
• Skulls: Skull White over Bleached Bone.

7. Washes.

• Skin, Tail/ Ears: Ogryn Flesh.
• Everything else(!): Devlan Mud.

8. Highlights. (After washes)

• Armour/ weapon edges (e.g. Helmet): Chainmail.
• Nails on staff symbol: Mithril Silver.
• Skull: Bleached Bone/ Skull White (50/50 mix)
• Skin/ Tail/ Ears: Tallarn Flesh/ Dwarf Flesh (50/50 mix)
• Warpstone: Snot Green/ Skull White (75/25 mix) then building up...Snot Green/ Skull White (50/50 mix), Snot Green/ Skull White (25/75)
• Skin (Hands, Feet etc.): Dwarf Flesh/ Tallarn Flesh (50/50 mix) and/ or Dwarf Flesh/ Elf Flesh (50/50 mix)

7. Drybrushing.

• Staff symbol: Dwarf Bronze. 
• Robes: Fortress Grey. 
• Staff: Bestial Brown/ Skull White (75/25 mix)

8. Final Basing

In this case, I decided not to add anything to the base other than the colours added previously, but if you wanted to...

• Dab on a couple of spots of PVA glue.
• Dip in flock.
• Shake away excess and leave to dry.

Done!

...or not QUITE done, because following advice and comments on other models, I decided to have a go at adding some verdigris to the Dwarf Bronze staff symbol. I had tried this before and so followed the same method.

9. Verdigris Wash.

• Heavily water down ICE BLUE (10 parts water to 1 part Ice Blue.) You'll need to experiment to find the right balance of water/ paint...
• Paint or dab onto the bronze symbol, so wash gathers in recesses or raised areas. Feel free to apply quite heavily, but be careful it doesn't drip down the staff.
• Using a rolled up piece of tissue paper (so it has a point) carefully dab or drain away wash from flat surfaces, leaving the wash gathered around raised areas or in recesses.

NOTE: Don't totally drain away from smooth surfaces...leave a thin film of wash if you can so it dulls down the overall metallic effect.

The finished product. 

Let me know what you think - all comments and suggestions welcome!

;-)

*Squeek*

Skaven Grey Seer Gallery

*Squeek*

"After some time away my evil brethren (planning, scheming, and yes, working...) I have returned! And with me,  I bring an ally of great power, for I am joined from Skavenblight by a mighty master of magiks...
...a Grey Seer!
With such assistance, we are sure to triumph over the hated bearded-things, man-things and elf-things - or ANYTHINGs who gets in our way..."

A few pics below - and a step-by-step guide to come!

*Squeek*