For the glory of Stirland!

Haha! Satan won't be happy.
Great work, as allways, looking forward to seeing more.

My Steamtank is done!

Pretty much straight out of the box, with a few notable exceptions... The Engineer is from the classic metal Steamtank (very nice model, I purchased one on Ebay especially for this), the banner is from a Sisters of Battle kit and the banner top is from the backbanner of Karl Franz... The shields are all the same design. I still need a fourth to complete the model, but I have a new kit on my shoppin list already:)








Very pleased with how he turned out...

I based my Steamtank on my new 75x100mm base instead of the standard chariot base. It is just a bit wider and looks that much better...

This afternoon I also converted one of my Master Engineers. I've always liked this model, but somehow his fur hat and collar always spoiled the model for me.




Here's my sollution... I cut away his hat and most of his collar. I replaced his fur hat with a nice floppy one with a big feather and used a bit of greenstuff to create a smooth collar...

And I even painted the model... That's right! Converted and painted in a single day!






The model is still wet with Devlan Mud (and he smells like poo)... I put him on a big 40mm base like my other Engineer (as will all my Engineers). Nice model to paint, lot's of detail and character...

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think!

The fur hat ruined that model in my opinion too, you've done a great job in giving him a far more stylish hat!

Although I rather liked the fur cap, the new hat looks spiffy, & ,like all conversions, it makes the mini uniquely your own. VERY WELL DONE!

Thanks for the feedback!

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The fur hat ruined that model in my opinion too, you've done a great job in giving him a far more stylish hat!

Thanks! I'm not a great fan of fur on Empire models. On Dwarfs and Chaos Warriors it's fine, but Empire models shouldn't have fur...

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Although I rather liked the fur cap, the new hat looks spiffy, & ,like all conversions, it makes the mini uniquely your own. VERY WELL DONE!

Thanks! He fits in better this way with the rest of the army. The fur hat reminds me too much of Ostland/Nordland and other Northern provinces.

Small update...




I've finished another Huntsman... This brings the total to five (a third of the unit). I still need to tidy the edge of his base, but otherwise he's done!


The Jeagermeisters so far... The rest of their buddies are in various stages of painting.

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think!

This new Jägermeister really looks like he means business...

Boreas_NL wrote:

I put him on a big 40mm base like my other Engineer (as will all my Engineers).

Concerning the base. It is your decision of course, but I don't get the idea behind that. To me the mini looks rather lost on this big base. You like your self-made bases naturally, but the fact that so many others comment on you maybe putting some grass on there shows to me, that I'm not the only one thinking your bases to be rather plain and empty. This is emphasized by putting the mini on even bigger bases and the barrel doesn't help either. It is so big, it dwarfes the engineer. And it just stands there. There is so much detail in all your other works, but there could be much more going on on your bases, especially this one.
I hope you do not take offense in my critizism. I don't expect you to change anything because of that. It is just that if I do mention some things that don't look right to me, my positive feedback might count even more later

i agree with grimscull, so much detail on your other projects buy plain bases, try some grass tufts, small gravel, maybe even drybrush some camo green and dab off with finger, gives a realistic mossy look you get on old cobblestreets, you be amazed by the differance, try it on a spare one if not sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLnWf1sQkjY

You are unbelievably amazing... Pure liquid wonderment...
seriously though, the amount of character you put in your models is just crazy... you have become a real idol for me ^^

Thanks for the feedback!

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Concerning the base. It is your decision of course, but I don't get the idea behind that. To me the mini looks rather lost on this big base. You like your self-made bases naturally, but the fact that so many others comment on you maybe putting some grass on there shows to me, that I'm not the only one thinking your bases to be rather plain and empty. This is emphasized by putting the mini on even bigger bases and the barrel doesn't help either. It is so big, it dwarfes the engineer. And it just stands there. There is so much detail in all your other works, but there could be much more going on on your bases, especially this one.
I hope you do not take offense in my critizism. I don't expect you to change anything because of that. It is just that if I do mention some things that don't look right to me, my positive feedback might count even more later

Thanks! No offence taken... Getting feedback or critisism (in any form) is the very reason I post my stuff here (if I heed it is another matter entirely;))
I might agree on adding some grass or other ruble to the bases, but I have to try that for myself first. As for the size, he's supposed to be part of a set. I intend to use my Engineers as support for my Warmachines. I'll take a few pics with him in my intended setup. In conjunction with the rest of the team he doesn't look that out of place. You are right about the bare base, I will add some more bits to his base (like a pile of cannonballs, a bucket or something similar) to give it some more character.

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You are unbelievably amazing... Pure liquid wonderment...
seriously though, the amount of character you put in your models is just crazy... you have become a real idol for me ^^

Thanks! You are the second person to link that song to my project I'm still a little confused if I should be flattered or disturbed Oh, and the guys from Lonely Island are cool! On Warseer I even linked this song to my sig...

Update time!

I've always been a big fan of the War Wagon model from the classic Empire range... A couple of years ago I used my first copy of this model on a conversion of a Steam Tank, damaging/converting it beyond further use. Recently I picked up another on Ebay. It arrived in the mail a few days ago, in appalling shape... After a good stripping and cleaning, the model is as good as new.

I've used parts from several kits for this project: the boiler is from the Plastic Steamtank, the Gryphon is from the classic War Altar and the rest is pretty much just the War Wagon... The model is still very much wip but should be finished soon.


To fit in with the high-tech theme of the army I opted to make the War Wagon steam powered...




The Gryphon was cut from the War Altar... His claws are drilled all the way through to fit on the axle.


The boiler from the plastic Steam Tank...


The propulsion system... I hope it looks technical enough to work. I used another set of pistons I had leftover from a previous project.


All the parts (minus the three wheels I'm still missing)...

The Wagon will be filled by the original crew. I'm still considering a couple of options to make this work as a War Altar, too. Probably make the crew removable and make an arch Lector to replace them.

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think!

Nice idea, i love this war wagon too, and look forward to see your´s done and painted, awesome so far!

PRETTY COOL! You have a real knack for making strange contraptions look plausible...VERY IMAGINATIVE.
I also am a War Wagon freak; I have one awaiting inspiration...friend John has 5 more that I could play around with. SO I'm looking forward to your progress on the Beasty.

Thanks for the feedback!

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Nice idea, i love this war wagon too, and look forward to see your´s done and painted, awesome so far!

Thanks! The model is very nice, thanks to/dispite it's age. Painting this model is going to be fun, but so easy I'm almost embarassed...

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PRETTY COOL! You have a real knack for making strange contraptions look plausible...VERY IMAGINATIVE.
I also am a War Wagon freak; I have one awaiting inspiration...friend John has 5 more that I could play around with. SO I'm looking forward to your progress on the Beasty.

Thanks! Five War Wagons?!? That's awesome! One is cool, but five of these things would be a sight to behold!

More updates coming soon!

Liking the looks very much! specially seeing as it goes steampunk!

though, the propulsion looks rather innafective?

I would get rid of the top piston, and then just make a construction underneath the boiler where you can fit the left and right lower piston to propell the wagon, and then have it support the boiler at the same time?

here, this is what I meant.

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Liking the looks very much! specially seeing as it goes steampunk!

though, the propulsion looks rather innafective?

I would get rid of the top piston, and then just make a construction underneath the boiler where you can fit the left and right lower piston to propell the wagon, and then have it support the boiler at the same time?

Thanks! Well, the propulsion looks technical and quite complicated, just like (in my twisted vision of reality) an Empire Engineer would make it... It may be highly unpractical and might not even work properly, but it looks good

In games this machine will get some sort of random movement to represent this...

Your picture looks very good, I wish I had the skills to adapt pics like this... I agree on some sort of additional support for the boiler.

More updates coming soon!

Update time!


This is the War Wagon with it's original crew of six Engineers... The models haven't been glued yet, this pic is just to show you how they will be used...

I also want to be able to use my War Wagon as War Altar. So I made this...






I've created some kind of pulpit from three statues and the stairs from the plastic Citadel Chapel/Watch Tower kit... The gaps were filled with GreenStuff. The whole thing is based on a piece of plasticard that fits snugly in the tower of the War Wagon and can easily be removed and swapped for the plastic base that holds the original crew.




The Arch Lector will really tower above his enemies in this thing... Furthermore, he will be well protected and at the same time be highly visible.

I still need to add some minor details to both the War Wagon itself and the pulpit but otherwise the model is done. I still need the wheels, but with a little luck that problem will be solved later today...

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think...

he's at it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! brilliant, GW will proberly borrow it sometime soon

More updates!

While digging through my bitsbox I came across this old plastic Cannon (it once belonged to my brother in law)...



Just look at the difference in size... When viewed on it's own, the plastic Cannon looks just fine, but when compared to my Metal Cannon, it's just tiny... And that's why it's only a matter of time before Stirland will rule The Empire!

I spent the better part of yesterday evening painting my War Wagon/Altar. It's still very much WIP but you should get the idea...


With the original crew...


With the pulpit in place...


The pulpit up close... The statues are more or less finished. The Arch Lector is still separate and held in place with a little bit of adhesive putty.


A close-up of the wheels... I used four of the large metal wheels from the old metal Steamtank. These are just about the biggest wheels around and, quite frankly, the only ones who look sturdy enough to be able to support the enourmous wheight of the entire War Wagon/Altar...

The model still needs a lot of attention (a lot of detailing and a liberal wash of Devlan Mud)... I hope to finish the vehicle later today. And then I will continue work on the crew and Arch Lector.

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think...

The war wagon/altar is brilliant - I'm eagerly awaiting it in its finished form!

The stone of the pulpit is awesome too, great colour.

Great stuff. The Empire engineer is looking like a traditional Bavarian Jäger (hunter). He has the tyoical beard and this exact color style.

Great Job on all the steam tanks and war wagons too.

Thanks for the feedback!

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The war wagon/altar is brilliant - I'm eagerly awaiting it in its finished form!

The stone of the pulpit is awesome too, great colour.

Thanks! For the statues I used a coat of Adaptus Battlegrey followed by a liberal drybrush of the paint I use for my scenery (Amsterdam Warm Grijs) and finished with a drybrush of Bleached Bone. After that, the whole unit received a wash of Devlan Mud (mostly just for the smell).

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Great stuff. The Empire engineer is looking like a traditional Bavarian Jäger (hunter). He has the tyoical beard and this exact color style.

Great Job on all the steam tanks and war wagons too.

Thanks! I like the 'traditional' look of most of the Empire models...

Update time!

I've finished my Arch Lector for the War Altar (he's the bald guy on top of the statues)...






A very nice model to paint... He looks quite small when on his lofty pulpit. He really towers above the battlefield. The whole unit is still completely separate and can be removed and swapped for the set or original crew.


I also finished the main part of the turret and the statue on the front... A simple wash of Devlan Mud makes quite a difference. Apart from the boiler and some minor details the Wagon itself is finished.


And together with the Steamtank... I based both these machines on my new XL base (75x100mm). As you can see the bulk of the War Wagon/Altar is considerable. It's certainly bigger than the Steamtank and the model will be a nice centerpiece for my army.

I'm also working on the six crewmembers for the War Wagon. More updates coming soon!

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think...

Update time!

The Wagon itself is now finished! I added a couple of small details and finished the boiler and pistons...

Here are a couple of shots from different angles...








The small flags on the side really help 'brighten' the thing up... They also help showing his Imperial Holyness's allegiance to Stirland. I've also pinned the model to the base (not really optional, the model is really heavy). Quite happy with the result (both in converting and painting)...

I'm currently working on the rest of the crew... Very nice models to paint! Too bad only the top half of the models will be visible. It'going to be very crowded in the tower of the Wagon, normally there is little room to spare, but with the added boiler it's going to be a really tight fit.

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think...

No real update, but a sort of battle report...

Yesterday afternoon I had a battle against 2500 points of Vampire Counts. I prepared my camera and took a few pictures of the initial set-up. Sadly, in all the excitement, I completely forgot to take any more pictures for the rest of the battle...

Anyway, here are the pics...

Vampire Count deployment:



A lot of Skeletons (three hordes), two units of Black Knights, a Varghulf, some Fell Bats and Wights. Two rather expensive Vampires made about 2500 points...

And the Stirland deployment:



Pretty much my standard army... Hordes of Greatswords and Halberdiers (when fielding VC you need Stirland Halberdiers!), a unit of Swordsmen, Spearmen, Handgunners and Huntsmen. I had a nice selection of War Machines with me (a Cannon, Mortar and Helstorm). For this occasion I chose to use my Arch Lector on het brand new War Altar to lead my forces...

The battle was cool. My opponent turned out to be a friendly guy (we never actually met before) and he had a lot of very nice mini's with him (some cool conversions and most of them painted to a very good standard). The battle had some very cool moments...
The first turn saw a direct hit of the Helstorm Rocket on two of his Skeleton Hordes, landing square in the middle and killing more then 20 of them (hence my excitement and forgetting all about taking more pictures:rolleyes:).
We both had our little moments of frustration, I forgot an entire shooting phase (Doh!) and he struggled to make his magic work (I generetad four extra dispel dice with my Arch Lector and both my Warrior Priests).

The battle was ultimately decided by my unit of 20 Swordsmen. I opted to charge his Knights and Vampire rather then be charged in the following turn. Suprisingly, they failed to inflict any casualties, lost ten or eleven men in return and proceeded to hold (insane courage!). Their sacrifice gave my Greatswords a chance against his Skeleton horde and Wights.

The battle ended in a victory for the forces of Stirland. We didn't bother to calculate victory points afterwards, but I had still some left on the table whereas his army was completely destroyed... As I said, a cool game, which could have easily turned out quite different.

Thanks for watching! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think...

I'm glad to hear others suffer from the excitement of the game. Our photographer often forgets he even brought the camera along.

So in future take a couple of close ups of the enemy units at set up, in case you forget to later.