The Archon's Challenge Stage 1 HQ edition

The First Stage of the Archon's Challenge.

Leadership. The fundamental key to success. Without it armies become mobs, carried away with the whims of those loud enough to be heard. Headless, sightless, without a unifying goal to cement them into a single purpose, they are left to flounder about like speared fish on a sandy shore.


Stage 1 will be a single HQ available in the Dark Eldar Codex. Special characters are acceptable.

Entry is open until the 21st of january 2012.

All participants must follow the rules as listed. See link

Contest rules

Submit one WIP shot to enter.

Jan 23 2012 all final pictures must be posted in the original thread.

Judging and comment will begin Jan 24. Best entry will be determined by Jan 28 2012.

A previously painted model may be used, but you must still enter a beginning WIP picture of the entered model.

All work must be your own. Honor system please.

No comments on anyone's work in this thread. They will be removed. If you wish to comment, please open a thread separately.

Good luck!


As an Example Only.

Name: GAR
User ID : u67
Army Name: The Black Halo
HQ Name: Rasputin of the Scarlet Sands

WIP Picture:
Ideally this would be just primed or only 2 or 3 colors with no shade or highlight


Since I cannot place or compete in my own contest, this is for fun and reference.

Username: Sky Serpent
User ID: u1
Army Title: Duke Sliscus And The Sky Serpents
HQ Entry: The Dark Artiste (Haemonculus, name also WIP )



This is the Haemonculus that I am currently working on, he comprises of parts from Urien, the generic Haemi, Talos kit, Flagellants and an Archon's soul trap.

The idea of the Artiste is he acts as Duke's head beautician and practicing artist, always on the lookout for 'subjects' for his next masterpiece. He will not be far from the Duke in the time of war and realspace raids as he curates his own impromptu exhibitions on the battlefield.

To suggest his artistic nature, he has three portraits on show, carried by the tendrils and limbs on his back. My original idea for these was to simply paint portraits on them with possible real life nods but that will be saved for another project in the army; instead I find him using his Shattershard to trap his subjects inside paintings or maybe something even more complex would be a lot more satisfying.

CRITQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.



This is a really great looking conversion and I am sad that a final model was not submitted. I think it has a great feel to it, rather sinister. The look is like it is watching its plans come to fruition or like a spider who has caught a fly in its web.

This model does qualify to be resubmitted for the next HQ edition in the future whenever that may be.

Username: Local_Ork
User ID: u92
Army Title: "Coven of Dyschromia", don't ask why.
HQ entry: Flamer Haemounculus (not sure about wargear yet. Maybe more, maybe less. For sure it would be Haemonculus...)

Username: Gobsmakked
User ID: u9
Army Title: The Serpents' Breath Corsairs
HQ entry: Baroness Sathonyx.

WIP pic:


Comment thread is linked here.

I am kidding myself that I will get a new conversion for Vect made and painted for this comp, so I am going to finally finish my Baroness instead. Incredibly, this was one of the very first DE conversions I did with the new range basically a year ago, and I still haven't painted it.

Finished pics:








CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.

The conversion work is very well done, and I applaud the highly creative skyboard/catamaran. its a great idea and could be used for a number of other options in a DE army such as venoms.

The paint on the final product is pretty good as well. The darker muted colors are a good choice and overall the scheme is well done. However, what I find distracting, is that the base draws more attention to the eye than the model does. What I see here as the biggest drawback to the model, overall, is that there needs to be a brighter accent on the model to draw they eye from the base to the model. I can see where the brighter blue was used, and the green, and it may be the pictures that do not reflect what is there in real life. But if you look closely, the yellow grass really contrasts with the blue-grey scheme, and is a complement to the green and blue. That is why the base draws attention more so than the model itself.

It really boils down to use of color in the right amounts, which is really a challenge to get a good feel for. Like I said, I think the colors are well done, but there needs to be a little something extra on the model to keep the eye focused on the model and not the base.

What I think could be done to this, without having to redo it, and would give the eye pop to really make this stand out are some yellow orange details or zig zags on the model that would tie the model all together. Something similar or slightly brighter than the grass would pull the attention back on to an already very nice model.

I used to hate when I got told this kind of stuff, but it really helped me to think my models through a little more and it made a lot of difference later on.

I think this is a great entry and will wow anyone who is fortunate, or unfortunate if you are on the other side of the table, to see it in person. It certainly is an HQ to be proud of.

Username: Siticus the Ancient
User ID: u494
Army title: The Wailing Doom Corsairs
HQ entry: Dread Archon Talari Twinblade

WIP:


Finished:






CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


So my initial thoughts is the conversion very well done. I had initially thought the head was one of the Wood elf heads, so props to you for fooling me on the conversion! Great job there. The shoulder pads are not DE pads as best I can tell, so they look just a little off with the rest of the model. Its not a bad thing, just an observation. Maybe a little filing or trimming would help them seem more in line with the model range, but that is just a very minor thing,

The painting is pretty good. I see some off source lighting on the gem in the chest and that looks pretty good. I'm not super sure about the OSL on the shoulder pads, I'm not 100% that is OLS or highlighting.

2 things come to mind on the figure.
1) the figure needs some stronger highlighting or shading, and I am thinking shading. With a grey armor color, its a neutral color and it really needs help to "pop" I see that black has been used to line shade, but might have run a mix of badab black and Asuryan blue to darken the figure a little more, then comeback with the base color and highlights.

2) there are too many colors. I try to keep to a maximum of 3 colors on all my figures. On this figure I see, as major colors that are competing for attention, Grey, Red, Blue, Green and White. One thing that helps is to use neutral colors so the main color you want to stand out does. Its a little challenging to pick up, but once you begin to understand color selection and using your palette, your figures will start looking much much better, from a color standpoint.

To go into a little more detail, the red and the blue really draw the viewers attention away from the body of the model. But since the green contrasts with the red, my eye tends to wander all over the model instead of the fine sculpt work on the face and head. and so as a viewer, I look at the cape, then at the loincloth and then the swords, then white fur cape and then down to the fuel tanks and the cape again and so on. I hope this makes sense to you.

That being said, the base work is good and I like how it was built up to fit the figure in a good dynamic pose. The color on the cape is very vibrant and I like how the highlight colors are more pronounced near the top of the cape and not so much near the bottom. I get the feeling you were trying some Zenithal lighting and would say you are off to a good start.

Overall, this is a well done figure and makes a great archon/focal point and it will certainly draw attention on the table top!




f.

Username: Dez
User ID: u597
Army Title: The Corsairs of the Scarlet Fiend
HQ Entry: Baron Sarthonyx

Comment Thread: https://thedarkcity.forummotion.com/t1939-hq-edition-comment-thread-dez



Modified




And PIP.











CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


Holy Green Goblin Batman, this figure has a lot going for it!
Dark moody base - check.,
Bright vivid color to contrast with dark moody base - check
Dynamics Jackie Chan would love - check


The dynamics of this are really very good, and I like the flow of it, even the cape is in a agreement with the overall direction of the model.

Painting, it is very bright with the red, and the black skyboard is quite dark, which makes the rider stand out more than it probably should. My thoughts, the skyboard I think is not highlighted enough. I feel another highlight level on the very tips of all the pointy bits on the skyboard would have been really benificial.

Conversely, the rider would benefit from a bit more shading. One thing I like to do with my reds is shade with a bit of blue, which is a cool color, and then keep going with the red the way you have it. the blue will naturally make the red stand out a bit more with out it being quite so intense. The blue is also not a huge wash over the entire model, you apply it in the darkest deepest recesses. I would not use black, since the eye perceives black differently from blue.

One thing that is hard for me to see is the facemask. I see you did some conversion work on it, but I don't have a good view of it.


I had thought about offering that some details on the skyboard to complement the red, but the more I thought about it, I think the black and red contrast is what you were going for and that is really does work for the model as a whole.

It may just be the pictures, but it looks like the hell glaive has a bit muted look. I like this a lot. I often feel we goo a little to over the top on bright weapons, give a dull well used one anyday.

I highly approve of the cork on the flight stand. Cork has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the hobby today.

Good stuff there. Very nice centerpiece you have here.

.

Username: crazy_irish
User ID: u103
Army Title: The Coven of the Grim Faced
HQ Entry: Haemonculus Ancient





CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.

I recall seeing the WIP for this figure and it was quite good. The conversion work is well done and it is hard to tell where the transitions are, which is what we want when doing conversion work.

The painting is well done and I don't see any major blemishes. I do see several different layers of color on the cloak which helps break up a plain flesh color.
The skin appears to be slick or wet, which adds a real creepy feel to the figure. I would however, like to see stronger highlighting on the skin and the green skirt he has on. Those would really add to the intensity of the figure and are just a bit too subtle to make this one stand out like I feel it can. I totally get this, since I struggle myself with subtle and more often than not I have to go back and increase my highlights to make the figure look the its supposed to look as I envisioned it.

The thing that really helps this figure out, to me is the background on the base. The arch is a very nice touch and it really helps the figure have some menace, which is hard for a static figure. I would add, however, I feel that the arch needs some more interest, such as some wear and tear or a battle damage, as well as stronger highlighting.

I feel that with those suggestions, this figure would go from amazing to stunning. This is a great looking model!

Username: POwell0
User ID: u637
Army Title: Kabal of the Broken One and Cult of the Withered Mistress
HQ Entry: Succubus - Heldana Linvail the Withered Mistress herself!!

My WIP pics:



Finished pics:




CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


This model has a lot of dynamics going on. I like the added bits included into this such as the spear and blade on the pistol. Those are great additions to dress this figure up. I almost feel like the pose is a little off, almost like she is leaning back a bit to much, but really it could be any number of things. It just feels a little off. Not a big deal.

The painting, while it is not what we would call Golden Demon Quality, it is very neat and clean. I say this because it is important to note that not every model has to be museum quality in terms of its technical difficulty. A blended model that is sloppy is still sloppy, and this figure is meticulously clean and neat which from a painters perspective is very important.

The colors used are also well thought out. Purple body suit with the red-orange hair makes a nice contrast and the gold goes well with the red-orange. Not too busy or complicated.

This is a well done figure which was well thought out and will look great on the table.
.

Username: gunnerboy1607
User ID: u707
Army Title: Corsairs of the Shivering Isles
HQ Entry: The feared Archon Fusro Caranath

WIP photo:


Finished product:






!!!



CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


The conversion on this model is first rate. The pose is good, and what a great idea it was to use CW Eldar bits to add soe interest to the figure.

The painting is interesting. What I mean by this is some parts are well done, others seem untidy. The armor has the most attention to detail, but areas like the cloak on his back seem not as neat, which is unfortunate from an otherwise brilliant figure.

The color selection is good, it has a goof feel to it. And while there are lots of different colors, they are small and bunched together so they do not compete for the eyes attention. Very well done.

The banner is a nice touch. I like the banner, its simple, effective, and make you wonder if this is CWE or DE. All the better to get up and close and personal with.

I like this figure very much. It is well thought out, executed cleanly for the most part, and is in a striking color scheme that will certainly draw attention.
.

Username: Tanhausen

Used ID: u721

Army Title: Soul Harvesters

HQ Entry: Beauty Surgeon (Haemunculi)

Username: Massaen
Used ID: u308
Army Title: Kabal of Shattered Thorns
HQ Entry: Drazhar




Edit 18 Dec...

and the finished model












CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


I like this conversion. The figure is very dynamic, has a lot of visual interest and the conversion neat and clean.

Painting, it is another simple paint scheme. Black and white, no shade or highlight on the armor that I can see in t the pictures. But I feel I need to comment that it is very neat and clean, and the color selection is well doe as well.I am not sure how much technical skill the painter has, or maybe in working with black and white, BUT and its a big butt, he has painted a very precise figure with great attention and it is very impressive. Give me a great looking, but simply executed model any day over a more technically difficult but cluttered looking model any day. An entire army painted like this would be amazing to see, its so clean that the neatness speak for itself.

An excellent figure, and one to be proud of. I am very fond of this style of painting and it always impresses me when I see it well done.

Username: Cailos
Used ID: u488
Army Title: Kabal of the Void Sky
HQ Entry: Archon Seliniana Sercot

I am going to have to say I will not be able to do this one. I can't find the mini anymore. This is why you shouldn't let your wife clean you warhammer stuff up without you around because you lose stuff. It was my fault really I should put it somewhere other than on top of the TV.

Username: Dogmar
User ID: u733
Army Title: Kabal of the Frozen Sun (WIP name)
HQ Entry: Haemonculus Ath'anyr, the Adept

WIP:



Finished:




The right hand is different because I broke the original one in the painting process - damn failcast.
More pictures on demand after the voting.


CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


The model is a straight up out of the box haemii. it is well put together, I don't see any gaps or mold lines.

Painting. The paint scheme is excellent. I think the cloak is dry brushed, but it looks like a lot of time was taken to prevent a grainy feel from appearing on it. The colors are great, the shade and highlight is neatly done and is subtle, which is something I like. Also, I love that the metallics were shaded. Major brownie points with me, since so often, they are just painted on and left as bare metal.

Very nice. Very nice indeed.
.

Username: Archeonlotet
UserID: u703
Army Title: Marauders of the Bleak Moon (WIP)
HQ Entry: Baroness Sathonyx



Finished Product - I hope you guys enjoy it








CRITIQUE
My comments are not meant to be taken as derisive or dismissive. I am posting my thoughts as judge on each submission so each of you will know what I see, what I think about it and how to improve. My goal is to help all of us be proud of what we have accomplished and how to get even better. I know one of the best things I could get when I was competing for my Demons was the judges and fellow competitors critique. I wish to share those lessons I picked up with you guys.


I like the use of the Dark Elf Sorceresss bits. its a nice conversion.

The painting is pretty good, I can see the dry brush highlights on the hair and sky board, but then I see layering on the body of the baroness, and it looks a little off.

Overall the figure has a cool feel, what I think would give it more vibrance is to use a normal warmer fleshtone. I know the GW art has DE as darker more grey, and thats fine. There is nothing wrong with the skin tone. My only point, from a painter perspective, is that a warm tone would stand out more than a cooler one. But if it clashes with the army as a whole, then not so much. Its a relatively minor knitpick, and is mostly a matter of preference and not a problem per se with the figure as a whole.

I like the metallics on the pants. Its an interesting feature to the model.

Username: Nalfen
UserID: u462
Army Title: Cult of the Sweet Oblivion
HQ Entry: Baron Sathonyx

Name: angrypeasant
User ID : u711
Army Name: <insert name here>
HQ Name: GW Succubus



Its coming to my house in my stocking... minor conversion, perhaps a weapon swap

Name: speedfreek
User ID : u46
Army Name: Harlequinade Macabre
HQ Name: Haemonculi

A first rough WIP.
Will post a finished model before paintingwhen I get that far.

some progress later...

And just before painting


And finally done!

Name: Preacher
User ID : u83
Army Name: Sundered Venom Warband, Kabal of the Poisoned Claw
HQ Name: Soldaan Kerunat

WIP Picture:




Edit: Completed (for the time being) Pictures:

Name: Saintspirit
User ID : u65
Army Name: Kabal of the Shadow Phoenix
HQ Name: The Dusk Knight, Hierarch of the Dark Temple (Counts as Drazhar)

WIP Picture:



Finished Picture:

Username: Asmodai650
User ID: u294
Army Title: undecided....
HQ Entry: Lilith Hesperax (as soon as christmas comes!)

Username: wilku
User ID: u819
Army Title: yet to be named
HQ Entry: Lhamaean (thanks for approving it)

Stage 1:
https://i.servimg.com/u/f42/17/12/16/04/stage_10.jpg

(I finally understand what finecast is for - increasing GS sales )

Stage 2:
Finished face, shading of the dres in progress. She'll be an ice queen for sure
https://i.servimg.com/u/f42/17/12/16/04/lhamae10.jpg

(GS still to do and generally speaking the cast sucks :/ )

Stage 3:
Almost finished - still to do: poison on the sword, the bone in her hair... (GS), some final touch-ups & a base
https://i.servimg.com/u/f42/17/12/16/04/stage_11.jpg

FINISHED
(three shots, to see better. I'm kind of... proud of it )

Username: Evil Space Elves
Usedr ID: u327
Army Title: The Baron's Flying Circus
HQ Entry: Baron Sathonyx

(EDIT)
Really should have read the rules better. I thought that the entry was due December 21st, not January 21st. Scratch that Archon; I can easily get this Baron conversion(heavily stealing from Dez!) done by then!
(Just to add yet ANOTHER Baron to this contest! )
Very WIP:



I think that I will try to do only entries that fly or don't touch the ground for the Archon's Challenge. Should be fun!

Name: Archon_Hellsbuttmonkey
User ID : u824
Army Name: The Kabal of the Shattered Wind
HQ Name: Malekor the Infernal

I have had the old Urien Rakarth model knocking around my collection unpainted for about 12 years and when I restarted 40k I thought it was a good opportunity to have a different model for my Ancient.

WIP Picture:


UPDATE:


started work on his skin first, trying to go for a scalded, peeling look to it.

UPDATE 2:


THE FINAL MODEL

Username: DarkKokabel
User ID: u356
Army Title: The Corsairs of the Clockwork Angels
HQ Entry: Asdrubael Vect (in a very bright and steampunk fashion)

WIP:





Finished product will be up just before due. Working on a model for a painting contest/40k event at my local GW. Sorry about the couple of extra colors, as you can see though it's still mostly not done or anywhere close and thanks for approval.