"Garrek Gorebeard Delights In Taking Severed Heads..."

"...Scalps and other trophies from those he has slain, brandishing these grim souvenirs to stoke his... bloodlust."

This 28mm scale "push-fit, red plastic" miniature of Garrek Gorebeard comes as part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set by "Games Wokrshop", and, rather usefully, can also be used to represent "the chieftain of a murderous band of Khorne-worshippers" in the Nottingham-based company's "Age Of Sigmar" tabletop wargame as well. Earning "the title of Gorebeard after ascending to his position by biting the throat of a rival, staining his beard in blood", the mighty warrior is not only the first of my Khorne Bloodbound warband to be painted, but the second of my four weekly submissions for this year’s Mo’Vember Challenge.

Initially primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to mask the model's vividly red coloured plastic, the war dog's trousers were painted with "Citadel" Abaddon Black and his leg armour, shoulder pad, wrist bracelet and symbolic belly plate were all subsequently treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, Garrek's numerous chains and incredibly well-detailed double-axe-head were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being generously washed in Nuln Oil.

Demon Bunny WIPs - The large rabbit has been primed, washed and dry-brushed

The mortal Bloodreaver's belt, numerous straps and wrist-guard were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade, whilst his "Grisly Trophy" was originally undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey and then shaded with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and a little more Strong Tone Quickshade. As Gorebeard has the impressive ability in "Age Of Sigmar" to "add

1 to the Attacks characteristics" of his unit’s melee weapons for the rest of the battle whenever he "slays any enemy Heroes", I decided to give the severed head's lifeless eyes an especially haunted look using a tiny dollop of "Vallejo" Dead White.

I created Garrek's infamous bloody beard by highlighting its "Citadel" Abaddon Black undercoat with "Vallejo" Heavy Red and then washing the various strands of hair with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. As a final touch, and in order to ensure the miniature fitted in with my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed based with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and (even more) Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter". This colour scheme is what I use on all my bases these days, and whilst it did seem somewhat a shame not to 'pick out' all the numerous skulls littered around Gorebeard's feet, it does mean the (allied) model can be readily included within my Tallyband of Nurgle.

BUF Bodyguard WIPs - This pair of "Bolt Action" bruisers have had all their different areas layered 

To help this "Age Of Sigmar" assimilation even further, I decided to also flock the base with static grass despite it actually depicting the chieftain being stood on some sort of dried mud-bank. This is an extremely straightforward process whereby the stand's paint-job is covered in a protective layer of PVA glue, and I then dab some more of the adhesive primarily around my figure's feet before depositing it in a large tin of static grass. Whilst the glue is still wet and the model is literally suffocating in flock, I gently but firmly push down onto the grass in order to ensure the small threadlike particles are well and truly embedded in the PVA; a process I might repeat on two or more occasions if I feel its coverage is still too 'spotty' after a couple of hours drying.

With such a 'patience-testing' piece finished, I have turned my attention momentarily towards a couple of much easier mini-projects, such as a "Horrorclix" Demon Bunny by "Wizkids", and a pair of "Warlord Games" British Union of Facists' bodyguards. I've already managed to get some basic priming, shading and dry-brushing done on my 'Rabbit of Caerbannog', whilst Sir Oswald Moseley's thugs now simply need to have some shades applied to them before they are finished...