Jack's Arabian Tomb Kings

[The Trampoline]

I'd happily hoover up the warriors.  Even though the internet tells me I should have 100 marauders with great weapons really.

Dave I've got a couple of warrior bits I'm looking to get rid of if you're interested.

[jackhoneysett]

Ok, let's drag this back on topic.

I'm going to start by aiming for a legal 1000pt army, just to give me a goal. This is mainly built around whatever bargains I could find on ebay, and will be something like this:

Liche Priest Heirophant Jafaar
Necrotect
15 Archers (full command)
10 Archers
3 Chariots (banner)
15 Tomb Guard (full command)
Warsphinx

Eventually I'll build that up to a size of around 2400pts, but at the speed I paint that may be a while off...

The Background:

Jafaar was once a trusted adviser to the Priest King Alcadizaar of Khemri. Despite years of faithful service, he was banished from the court for kicking the King's cat. This was one of the most serious crimes imaginable in ancient Khemri, and punishments tended to range from exile to being buried alive in giant pits of kitty litter.

Jafaar fled Khemri filled with bitterness, and carrying a scroll stolen from the temple vaults. His flight brought him west to the deserts of Araby, where he lived a nomadic life among the indigenous people. During this time he devoted himself to studying the stolen text, discovering it to be one of the remaining Scrolls of the Dead, written by the defeated necromancer Nagash. From this Jafaar learned the secrets of undeath.

During his exile, Jafaar was unaware that Nagash was growing in strength, and prepared to assault Khemri once more. The first indication came when Nagash completed the Great Ritual, and waves of dark power caused the nomads' eyeballs to melt and their faces to collapse like uncooked flans. Drawing on the power gained from the stolen scroll, Jafaar bound the souls of these victims to his will. With an army at his side once more, it was time to return to Khemri and reclaim his land.

[jackhoneysett]

Here's a few wip shots of my tomb guard. The halberds are dark elf spears - with the scale difference between Lotr and wfb I'm hoping these don't look too ridiculous.



And here's a tester model, with a vague idea of the red, white and gold colour scheme I'm going for:

[Dave]

Mmm fuzzy!  Scheme looks a bit bland from that, but a better pic would help, maybe just needs some more highlights/detail picked out.

Also what are you thinking for basing, that tends to make a massive difference?

[jackhoneysett]

Yep, turns out my iPhone camera likes to focus itself randomly :(
I may have to rock out the proper cam when I've got some finished stuff to show you.

I'm not totally sold on the colour scheme yet either - that one's just basecoated, so I'm hoping a wash/highlight will help.

As for basing, I reckon it has to be sand really. Just worried that might be a bit dull or predictable...?

[jackhoneysett]

Update 1 - Can't paint, won't paint

Hello everyone! Here is my first (proper) entry in this here painting log. Before I show you my first efforts for the army, here's a little disclaimer: the aim of this project is to see if someone who is not a great painter (that would be me) can produce a reasonable looking army, through a combination of simple painting tricks and a bit of cheating (also known as dousing everything in Devlan Mud).

I was tempted to use dip, but it sounds incredibly messy, and probably gives you cancer*. In the same way that mobile phones 'might' now give you cancer. Of course if the media reported everything that we can't categorically rule out from being carcinogenic, the list would be endless (barbecues, lava lamps, David Dickinson...). Anyhoo, before I digress, I'd better show you my first model.

* before I get sued for libel, I should say there is no evidence that Army Painter products are carcinogenic...

After complaints that I am rubbish with an iPhone camera, I've had to break out the big boy. So these should be a little less blurry.


Meet Jafaar, my Liche Priest and hierophant. (Similarities with Disney characters, either living or dead, are purely coincidental)
The cloak is simply Hormagaunt Purple, highlighted with Liche Purple, then Warlock Purple, washed with Devlan Mud, then with a little Space Wolves Grey drybrush.
For a basing scheme, I chose a sort of blasted wasteland because I decided sand would be a bit dull, and wouldn't contrast with the gold armour. The bases are Charadon Granite, Khemri Brown drybrush and GW dead grass.

Next up, my first unit: the Tomb Guard (3 basic troopers + standard bearer + Tomb Captain)



The cloaks are sprayed with Army Painted Dragon Red, headscarves basecoated with Space Wolves Grey, and the armour is Burnished Gold. Everything is then liberally splashed with Devlan Mud, and highlighted.
The visible flesh is Rotting Flesh washed with Ogryn Flesh.
That's it!

As I said, they're designed to be quick and dirty to produce. If anyone has any tips on how to improve them, things to change, or even (dare I hope) things they like about them, let me know!

One outstanding question: what colour should I paint the gemstones? I would start a poll, but I don't know how to. So answers on a postcard please.

[fatolaf]

Bright Green!

Nice start Jack, looking good....

[cunningmatt]

Of course if the media reported everything that we can't categorically rule out from being carcinogenic, the list would be endless (barbecues, lava lamps, David Dickinson...).

David Dickinson can almost certainly be ruled in as carcinogenic, anything that shade of mahogany that isn't actual mahogany, must be bad for your health.

I think the models look cool, particularly so given your simple painting method.

I'd agree with Ol , green will contrast nicely with both purple and red (though depends on what other accent colours you've used). Blue, red and green gems I've all found come out reasonably well, but don't go for yellow it's a complete pain in the arse and half my yellow gems look like dead embryos - probably placed too close to David Dickenson (have I taken this line too far, never quite sure!).

[Meals]

Purple, to link them in with your Priest or dark Green but keeping to fewer colours always looks better personally (also green could get a little christmas combined with the red...). Are these gonna be full on Gem stones with correct lighting effects?

[jackhoneysett]

I think the models look cool, particularly so given your simple painting method.

Thanks! I'm hoping that using non-standard and interesting models will help distract people from the fact that I don't really know what I'm doing. There's a lot of good stuff in the LOTR range, it's a shame that no one plays it.

Blue, red and green gems I've all found come out reasonably well, but don't go for yellow it's a complete pain in the arse and half my yellow gems look like dead embryos - probably placed too close to David Dickenson (have I taken this line too far, never quite sure!).

I think I will use green for some of the other models, but for these Tomb Guard I am a little worried about them looking too much like a regiment of evil santas. (You can never abuse David Dickenson too much)

Purple, to link them in with your Priest or dark Green but keeping to fewer colours always looks better personally (also green could get a little christmas combined with the red...).

So I'll go with purple for these guys, as it's my other signature colour and doesn't yet feature on them. Also, I like painting purple. Also, amethyst is my birthstone (apparently, according to whichever hippy invented the idea).

Are these gonna be full on Gem stones with correct lighting effects?

You are a demanding audience 
Which is good, I need a nudge in the right direction. I will do my best, but don't get your hopes up too much! I have always painted gems using 4 colours: a mid-level basecoat, a darker shade for the bottom crescent, a highlight for the top crescent, and a dot of white at the top. Unless anyone has any top tips?