Warhammer Fantasy - Dark Elves - Chapter 1 - Khainite War Hydra

Warhammer Fantasy - Dark Elves

Chapter 1 - Khainite War Hydra

   Slaves, Slaves in waiting and future "light bites" BEHOLD!
This terrifying monster will join a Khainite army led by Crone Hellebron herself.

   Luckily for us, BUT NOT FOR YOU!!! Witch Elves are core in the Khainite List - Mwahaha! This makes a Khainite themed Dark Elf army a very very dangerous prospect. At least if you walk into one, its like walking into a blender.

Note there is a Handy Links Section included at the foot of this post.

UK -  Element Games  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games

USA / Canada - Games Kastle

Crystal Codes for Element Games RIC134 or ROB8508

   Just look at the Khainite themed characters and units we can use here:

   Crone Hellebron, Tullaris Dreadbringer, Assassins, Death Hags, Cauldron of Blood, Witch Elves and Executioners.

   Well that's already very scary but we can also add other units to augment these. As most of the Khainite specific units fall into the melee infantry bracket we could use some support.

First up The War-Hydra!

Assembly

   I undertook this just as per the instruction booklet but hold back on gluing the Beastmaster’s to the base – this makes painting them a lot easier.

Painting

   So, what is a Dark Elf Khainite theme? … Pu…. ?  RED!....lots of red!!!

   I undercoated the mini in Citadel Mephiston Red spray over the entire model and base. At this point my plan was to layer up progressively lighter reds for the upper areas of Hydra skin and browns for the lower areas. However, I thought I may be able to speed this up by using Citadel contrast paints - I just wasn't too sure if it would work on a basecoat of red!

   I applied a layer of Flesh Tearers Red to the upper parts of the Hydra's skin and a layer of Aggaros Dunes to the lower parts. This allowed some transition in the zone between the two paint colours - a “wet blend”.

HOBBY TIP: Apply a fairly generous amount of contrast paint as you want it to act like a wash. The paint will appear darker in recesses and folds on the mini and lighter on the more raised parts. Don't go too heavy with it though as you need to ensure that the details on the surface are still clear.

   Once this had dried, I was pleased with the result and it seemed that undercoating the model with Mephiston Red allowed an element of blending along the join between the red and brown. However, I felt that a second coat of Aggaros Dunes was required to strengthen the brown as the red undercoat was overpowering it on the raised areas.

   Following this I drybrushed the upper skin with Mephiston Red and followed that with a light drybrush of Evil Sunz Scarlet.

   The claws and belly spikes were painted Rhinox Hide then layered with Karak Stone and highlighted with Ushabti Bone.

   The head spikes were painted Mephiston Red and Highlighted with Evil Sunz Scarlet. (I also picked out a few edge highlights with Evil Sunz at this point - like the ridge over the eyes and the ridges on the hands and feet).

   I painted the inside of the mouths with Worm Purple (a very very Old Citadel Colour, from before the war of the beard) and highlighted the tongues with Genestealer Purple.

   At this stage I was happy with the War-Hydra itself and moved onto the Beastmasters.

   Druchi Skin was painted with a thin layer of Rakarth Flesh then apply a wash of 50/50 mix of Agrax Earthshade/Lahmian Medium. Coax this wash into the areas like eye sockets, ears, below the nose and cheekbones, under the chin and between fingers with your brush before you set the mini down, and keep on top of it while it dries. Then apply another light coat of Rakarth Flesh to highlight the raised areas. At this stage, I'm happy with the effect but you can further highlight areas like the brow, nose and ear tips with Pallid Wych Flesh as well as painting in the eyes. I'm afraid I'm too chicken to attempt eyes on the smaller models so tend to leave them.

   The boots and gloves were painted Abbadon Black which was edge highlighted with Mechanicus Standard Grey.

   The leather armour was painted with thin layer of Khorne Red then washed with Carroburg Crimson. Once this was dry it was painted with a thin layer of Mephiston Red whilst avoiding the recessed areas where the wash settles. Pick out a few of the bumps with Evil Sunz Scarlet and a few with Fiery Orange. There are also a couple of boney plates - one on the shoulder and the other(s) on the back - these were painted using the same method as the Hydra’s claws.

   The next stage is to paint all other leather areas like pouches and whips with Rhinox Hide. Highlighting these areas with Mournfang Brown.

   Pick out the metal areas with your preferred colours - Blades and hooks are painted with Leadbelcher and the other areas like armour, I painted Scorpion Brass. I like to dull these areas down so I apply a wash of Nuln Oil to the Leadbelcher and Agrax Earthshade to the Scorpion Brass.

   The female beastmaster's hair was painted Abbadon Black then a thin coat of Deamonette Hide. This was then highlighted with Dawnstone and then with Ulthuan Grey on the tips.

  The male's hair was painted black and then received one highlight of Mechanicus Standard Grey.

   That completes the bulk of the model. There are a couple of “pick ups” like potion bottles and daggers - easily painted in whatever colours you want.

The War-Hydra and Beastmasters were then glued into place on the base.

   Apply a layer of PVA glue to the surface. Sprinkle a few larger gravel pieces onto the glue then cover the rest with sand and allow to dry.

   Paint the entire base and the rocky outcrops that the War-Hydra and the Beastmaster are standing on with Rhinox Hide. I paint the edge of the base this colour as well. (All my Druchii have bases edged in Rhinox Hide).

   Drybrush the sand/gravel with Karak Stone. Paint the rocky outcrops with the same colour then apply a wash of Agrax Earthshade to define the ridges and other details of the rock. Allow this to dry then highlight the raised areas with Karak Stone so it blends in with the highlighted sand/gravel.

Once all that is dry, randomly apply a few spots of PVA and sprinkle on some Glade Grass, clumps or similar.

Job done - I'm gonna call him Big Red and feed him on Bretonnians!

Glory to Khaine!
Gildoren and The Fat Dwarf

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Relevant Posts
Altar of Khaine

Dark Elves
Dark Elf Army List - Slavers Raiding Party

Khainites
Chapter 1 Khainite War Hydra
Chapter 2 Khainite Death Hag Battle Standard Bearer


HANDY LINKS SECTION
As ever we suggest you look around for the best deals, but we have found the following the most competitive.

Spray Paints
General Spray Paints - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Testors Dullcoat, (The Best Matt Varnish) - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape

Model Paints
Army Painter Dip - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Army Painter Warpaints - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Citadel Air - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Citadel Base - Element Games  Goblin Gaming The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape
Citadel Contrast - Element Games  Goblin Gaming The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape
Citadel Dry - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Citadel Layer - Element Games  Goblin Gaming  The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Citadel Shade - Element Games  Goblin Gaming The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  
Citadel Technical - Element Games  Goblin Gaming The Outpost  Firestorm Games  Wayland Games  -  Games Kastle  Mighty Ape  

UK:
ELEMENT GAMES   GOBLIN GAMING
FIRESTORM GAMES    THE OUTPOST
WAYLAND GAMES

Please note many of the UK listed companies here will post out to the Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA (and often others) often for CHEAPER THAN YOU CAN BUY LOCALLY!!!

firestorm ?aff=5e3c31eaa5072
Element  ?d=10389
Canada & USA:
GAME KASTLE 

Please note many of the UK listed companies here will post out to the Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA (and often others) often for CHEAPER THAN YOU CAN BUY LOCALLY!!!

NOBLE KNIGHT GAMES

Australia & New Zealand:
MIGHTY APE

Please note many of the UK listed companies here will post out to the Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA (and often others) often for CHEAPER THAN YOU CAN BUY LOCALLY!!!