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Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 3:31 am
by siggyllama
I've been enjoying the WIP threads on here so I thought I might as well contribute one.

I started playing BB in 1987, and most of the minis I own were bought back then, yet it took until last autumn before I ever painted a full team (and that only took me 2 years to complete, working off and on). Here they are, the Thunder Bay Blunderbuss:

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While looking through my minis and seeing what LRB6 teams I could put together, it took an embarrasingly long time for me to realize I had everything I need to make a Pact team (minus the Troll) if I used these old WHFB Chaos Warriors as Marauders:
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(That red CW represents the best painting specimen I managed in high school, btw)

They certainly weren't going to be put to any other use, so I commissioned Xtreme do so some conversions for me (check out his painting blog if you haven't already!), including some mutations for the renegades.

Trying to come up with a theme for my team, being that the Pact are composed of Northmen and that I am a recent transplant to Michigan, I thought I would theme them after my state's remote, desolate Upper Peninsula. Casting about for ideas, I came upon this piece of Paul Bunyan folklore and decided the Frozen Flames had a nice ring to it. I like to think that the team name harkens back to the incident when the Winds of Chaos first swept into a frozen timber and copper-mining village (the chief industries of the U.P.) and the communal bonfire froze solid from the influence to Tzeentchian magic. That omen still looms large in their collective memory and forms the inspiration for their team identity.

Residents of the U.P., in their distinct local accent (which is influenced, somehow, by the populace's Finnish and Scandinavian descent), refer to their home as "Da Yoop"; that looks a bit silly for the hordes of Chaos, but el superbeasto was kind enough to supply me with the Danish-stylized spelling of Da-hjup, which looks a little darker and mysterious. (He also sold me a 2nd ed. troll to round out the team, swell fellow.)

Time to pick a color scheme. I hemmed and hawed about this endlessly, to the extent that I painted up 3 different demo figures to try out some ideas:
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My biggest problem here was that I fixated on using copper for the metal bits, to fit with the geographic theme. But I also wanted a deep blue for the icy arctic night, and a pale yellow to represent the frozen flame. Of my candidates I liked #3 the best, but for the yellow to play nice with the copper, I had to warm it up a little.

So finally, to some real results! My first go at a Marauder, Macky Gnaw:
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When painting my test models, my wife was adamant that she didn't like light-colored shoulder pads, so I went with a blue one here... and didn't like the results. So I made it yellow, and his brother Macky Gnack to match:
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Next up, the minotaur Moosejaw. I humbly submit that here is the best painting I have yet achieved. (You don't want to know how many hours it took me.)
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Here the the 3 finished guys together (you can glimpse the troll WIP in the back):
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Sheesh, that was ridiculously long, hope you can get some enjoyment out of that! All thoughts and feedback welcome.

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 3:59 am
by Xtreme
Looking great so far, can't wait to see some of the other models some of my favorites are still to come.

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 4:33 am
by Fassbinder75
I love this project, old-school minis turned into a Tzeentch-ian Pact side. Looking really good so far! I've got my own in progress (sig).

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 7:44 am
by axiom
Nice use of the old chaos models! I love the nice vibrant blue and yellow.

Those old school humans are great too. I still love those figures!

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 7:55 am
by Joemanji
Looks great so far, excited to see the rest!

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 8:01 am
by sann0638
I'd strongly suggest getting hold of some 30mm bases for the big guys (Impact, among other places probably) as the 40mm ones are not particularly practical on the board. Good stuff though!

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 9:00 am
by nazgob
I've found that 1980s bigger guys fit on standard bases just fine.

Loving the look of the team - can't wait to see more.

Did you ever locate a troll?

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 11:49 am
by robsoma
My psychic abilities say yes he did and that he numbered him 12...

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 1:00 pm
by Norse
robsoma wrote:My psychic abilities say yes he did and that he numbered him 12...
the force is strong in this one... :roll:

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 2:32 pm
by siggyllama
Fassbinder75 wrote:I love this project, old-school minis turned into a Tzeentch-ian Pact side. Looking really good so far! I've got my own in progress (sig).
Just checked yours out, looks great. I've wondered if I'll ever have the courage to do the asymmetric color scheme thing.

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 2:51 pm
by siggyllama
Thanks for the encouragement everyone, and for those of you with sharper eyes than certain others :P

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 2:53 pm
by siggyllama
(Actually come to think of it, I do have a WIP shot of the troll)
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Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 5:29 pm
by fatfinley
This is great. I love the choice of models for this team. The research for the name and such for the team, is very BOTH DOWN Approved!

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 5:39 pm
by Sir-Skofis
This project is looking great, hoping to see more updates

Re: Da-hjup Frozen Flames : Chaos Pact WIP

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 1:10 am
by bound for glory
very nice!