The army of Spires; assembly time

[Houdini]

My gosh that is a lot of High Elves! Looking really good too! You can basically play just about any list variation there is, which I think is the best part about having so much of one army. It’s great you maintained your whole army after 8th died.

[Prince of Spires]

My gosh that is a lot of High Elves! Looking really good too!

Thanks! I'm happy with them as well

You can basically play just about any list variation there is, which I think is the best part about having so much of one army. It’s great you maintained your whole army after 8th died.

The main thing I'm missing is more chariots I think. I only have one of each. But that's about it in terms of being limited. The rest I can proxie if needed. For instance, with only 7 SW, I can't play a shadow prince supported by lots of SW. But I've got plenty of archers and the like which can stand in for them. Chariots is a bit trickier. I can't run a 6 chariot army. Other than that, I can put pretty much anything on the table

And for me 8th never died I didn't have lots of time to play the past few years (having young kids and all), but the few games I did get were 8th edition. Though now I've switched to TOW, which is fun.

[Houdini]

Ah I have always been light on chariots as well, and I actually don’t have any sky cutters. They were obviously poor performers in 8th Ed. Though I still had 4 boxes of the Lion Chariot sitting in storage mainly for Dragon Prince conversions that I never got around to.

On another note you have inspired me to make a bit of a stock take on all the stuff I have!

[Prince of Spires]

The next models have been assembled. In honour of the new Chracian Warhost, I've got 5 more metal White Lions assembled.



I'm back to the To Do pile being the smallest, with 86 in progress and 73 still in box. Though I have ordered 10 sisters, a phoenix, and 2 characters, so that'll change soon enough again.

Next up, I'm going for one of the only models in the army book I can't yet field, the Merwyrm. My current plan is to get it assembled and give it a try in a game somewhere in the near future. For those keeping track, the other two models I don't have are the War Lions (I'm not sure where my lions from the Tiranoc I built ended up. I think I either gave them to a friend or used them in a Secret Santa conversion project), and a Stormweaver on unicorn. I'll see about getting those fixed once the models release. And I'm not getting a battalion just for the chariots. I have little desire to get more spearmen and archers, I have plenty of those to assemble and paint already.

[Anduil of Elithis]

Good luck with those White Lions! I have 15 of those left to paint as well. But their current rules don't put them very high in the priority list.

Are you using the official model for your Merwyrm? I can't yet stomach the pricing of that model and will likely go for an alternative.

[Prince of Spires]

It will be a while before the White Lions see paint I think. At the moment I'm mainly focussing on getting as many models assembled as possible, so making sure everything can be fielded in a game. So they'll stay naked for a while yet. I've got plenty of models to play and field mainly painted armies, which is why I'm mainly trying to get everything assembled. It's also easier with the limited hobby time I have at the moment. It's usually a few minutes here or there. And you can easily clean an arm and glue it on in that time, but getting out the paint and everything to put some color on models takes a lot more time.

The Merwyrm is indeed the official model. I must say it's growing on me. When I first saw it in photos I didn't like it much, but each time I come across it, it's better. It's pricey indeed. Though I hadn't bought any WH stuff in ages (except for the TOW rule books). Not since The End Times, and even before that it was fairly limited, so my hobby has been pretty cheap so far. Which made me okay with getting it. Also, it's sort of voting with my wallet. I like TOW and want to have continued support for it from GW. And handing them some money is a way to show that.

I'm curious to see how it performs in-game. I might throw together a few lists and see what I can come up with some time in the near future. Though I'm definitely open to suggestions for using him

[Anduil of Elithis]

The Merwyrm is indeed the official model. I must say it's growing on me. When I first saw it in photos I didn't like it much, but each time I come across it, it's better. It's pricey indeed. Though I hadn't bought any WH stuff in ages (except for the TOW rule books). Not since The End Times, and even before that it was fairly limited, so my hobby has been pretty cheap so far. Which made me okay with getting it. Also, it's sort of voting with my wallet. I like TOW and want to have continued support for it from GW. And handing them some money is a way to show that.

I can understand that approach and it is not that I do not like GW's Merwyrm. Still, I will have to think about this a bit more before investing in it. With my army hailing from the far-away city of Tor Elithis, I also feel there is also enough geographical distance to easily integrate other models of mythical beasts that tie the army closer to that region of the Warhammer world. Which is also why I am a bit hesitant about the phoenix model right now.

[Prince of Spires]

I can understand that approach and it is not that I do not like GW's Merwyrm. Still, I will have to think about this a bit more before investing in it. With my army hailing from the far-away city of Tor Elithis, I also feel there is also enough geographical distance to easily integrate other models of mythical beasts that tie the army closer to that region of the Warhammer world. Which is also why I am a bit hesitant about the phoenix model right now.

I think with your army and collection of models, you can definitely find a different model that fits your army nicely. Also, just thinking out loud, but if you go with the water dragon (or a similar version), then you could build a rider for him or reserve a spot on the base for a model, and have it double as a Dragon in some games. After all, I'm doubting if the current version of the Merwyrm is worth it in terms of how good it is on the table. I don't think it's as bad as the internet has decided, but it's not an amazing auto-include either. So looking at how often the model may see use, it might not be worth investing in purely from that point of view. Though in a next edition whenever that appears it can be completely the opposite of course, just look at our frostheart phoenix, which was amazing in 8th edition and an almost auto-include, and so far mine hasn't seen any use this edition.

As for the Phoenix kit, it also depends a bit on how much you like kit-bashing. My flamespire phoenix has actually been made from the left over parts of the frostheart, combined with an old model airplane I had lying around (photo's of the project start here viewtopic.php?p=875240#p875240 and continue for a few pages...). So with some patience, some hobby material, and some left over bits, you can get 2 models out of that kit. Though it's not free either of course, since especially a fair bit of hobby putty went into the project.

[Prince of Spires]

I've been busy assembling, again. Here's a photo dump:

First up, the Merwyrm.


Having seen it up close, I really do like the model. It's got a lot of personality. The kit itself is also nice to work with (if you don't mind resin of course). Though I did mess up the alignment a bit, which means that both his front left paw doesn't sit on the ground as it should, and the wooden beam his tail grips is floating up in the sky. Nothing a bit of creative basing can't fix of course, but it is anoying. There are also a few gaps that need filling, but I was out of greenstuff. So that will have to wait until I've got some again.

Next up the 3 remaining metal Maidenguard.

I love these old metal models. They're fairly simple (by today's standard at least), but they've got a lot of flavor and look very distinctly elvish.

Also got the 5 metal Swordmasters done


And Korhil

The same for these models. He's a fairly simple character model, compared to some of the modern models, but maybe because of that he's got a lot of character. He doesn't rely on gimmicks, twirly bits and an overload of gems and silly details to be a great model.

That's it. All my current metal models have now been assembled. Which was partially which I picked these, since super glue doesn't like being in an open bottle for a long time. I wanted to get as many of them done before I have to throw the bottle out. The Handmaiden model is on the way though, which is also metal, and I'm guessing I'll pick up some of the made to order stuff, which is also likely metal. But other than that, just plastic to go.

I'm not sure what to assemble next. Maybe first a RBT so I can field a battery of three of them. Or maybe the WL, which is the biggest unassembled unit in the list. Let me know if you have ideas

Anway, if I've counted correctly, that's still 168 completed, 96 assembled, and 63 still in box. Which means that even with the 14 models I ordered in the second wave, I'll still have more in progress than to-do.

[Prince of Spires]

The next batch of stuff arrived

I'm slowly getting to the point where I really do have everything I could possibly need... I think all that's currently left is another box of sisters/SW (to build a bigger unit of SW), a tiranoc chariot, a WLC, a Skycutter, and the made to order stuff. Other than that, I should have a complete set more or less.

Of course, I couldn't resist and assembled one of them, the Handmaiden. Like before, metal and resin models get priority since super glue tends to dry out in a short time when not used.


With that, it's probably time to update the master list again with the new units.

index:
- finished
- asembled/in progress
- just owned

Characters
- 1 Everqueen (metal)
- 1 Imrik on dragon (half metal)
- 1 Eltharion on Stormwing
- 1 Alith Anar (metal)
- 1 Caradryan (metal)
- 1 Korhil (metal)
- 1 Ishaya Vess
- 1 Dragon (plastic)
- 1 Dragon mage
- 1 Griffon (IOB)
- 1 Griffon (IOB)
- 1 Eagle mounted prince / battle standard bearer(secret santa)
- 1 Mounted Battle standard bearer(plastic prince / bsb kit)
- 1 Prince on foot (secret santa metal)
- 1 Great weapon noble on foot(plastic prince / bsb kit)
- 1 Anointed on foot
- 1 Loremaster
- 1 Seahelm battle standard bearer
- 1 Mage elemental (metal)
- 1 Mage with staff and sword (metal)
- 1 Mage (IOB)
- 1 Mage (IOB)
- 1 Handmaiden of the Everqueen (metal)

Core
- 16 spearmen, (plastic) full command
- 8 spearmen (plastic monopose)
- 13 spearmen (plastic)
- 4 spearmen (plastic monopose)
- 16 archers, full command
- 8 archers (plastic monopose)
- 9 archers, champion, musician (metal)
- 8 archers (plastic monopose)
- 20 Lothern sea guard(metal), full command
- 10 Lothern sea guard(IOB), full command
- 10 Lothern sea guard(IOB)
- 8 Elyrian Reavers, full command (metal)
- 5 Elyrian Reavers (IOB)
- 5 Elyrian Reavers (IOB)
- 16 Silver helms(plastic), full command

Special
- 10 White Lions, full command (latest metal)
- 5 White Lions (latest metal)
- 21 White Lions (plastic), full command, 1 unit filler base
- 10 Swordmasters, full command (latest metal)
- 5 Swordmasters (metal)
- 20 Swordmasters(IOB), full command
- 26 Phoenix guard, full command (metal)
- 5 Shadow warriors, champ (latest metal)
- 2 Shadow warriors, (previous metal)
- 10 Dragon princes, full command(latest metal)
- 1 Tyranoc chariot
- 1 White lion chariot
- 1 Skycutter

Rare
- 26 Maiden guard, 2 champions, 2 musicians, 1 standard bearer (metal)
- 10 Sisters of Avelorn
- 1 Flamespire phoenix (kitbashed)
- 1 Flamespire phoenix
- 1 Frosthear phoenix
- 1 Frosthear phoenix (kitbashed)
- 2 Great eagle (metal)
- 1 Repeater bolt thrower
- 1 Repeater bolt thrower
- 1 Repeater bolt thrower(skycutter kitbash)
- 1 Repeater bolt thrower(last metal version)
- 1 Merwyrm (Forge World resin)

By my count, it's 342 models. Of those, 168 are done, 156 are in progress (meaning, they're assembled and can be used in a game), and 18 are still in their box. Next up, Ishaya, and after that the WL unit.

[TyrrenAzureblade]

Very impressive collection, can’t wait to see more of this massive host painted up! I wish I had some disposable income, a part of me wants to pick up at least one copy of each new re-issue to squirrel away in my hobby closet.

[Anduil of Elithis]

Cool to see you expanding your collection! I must admit that I had forgotten the Handmaiden to come in metal. It's really been a while since her original release...

[Prince of Spires]

Very impressive collection, can’t wait to see more of this massive host painted up! I wish I had some disposable income, a part of me wants to pick up at least one copy of each new re-issue to squirrel away in my hobby closet.

Thanks! It's taken something like 15 years to get to this point. Which I guess is the most important thing to remember in this hobby. Steady progress gets you a huge army... Don't worry too much about the new releases I'd say. Most of it will still be available later. I think only the made-to-order stuff might be more limited, and most of that will be collector models. Stuff you want because you're lacking that model, not because it's actually a great model (looking at you, mage on unicorn...).

Also, ebay is your friend. Or at least, will be again once the prices drop to more afforable levels. I've found some great deals on there (like the PG). It just takes a bit of patience and finding someone who just wants to get rid of a bunch of models or who doesn't fully know what he's selling. And a bit of luck in case of a bidding war of course...

[Prince of Spires]

Cool to see you expanding your collection! I must admit that I had forgotten the Handmaiden to come in metal. It's really been a while since her original release...

I actually think her original release might have been finecast resin. She came out around that time at least. GW just wants all of us to forget finecast actually happened...

[Prince of Spires]

Got another few models assembled.

First up, 1 Ishaya Vess.

With that, all character models I have that I currently want to assemble are assembled. For the Dragon I've got a bit conversion in mind. And the IOB mage and griffon prince I already have assembled once. I'll probably do some converting with them as well (once I figure out what I'd want to do with them), or just harvest them for bits...

Next, the unit of WL.

They were pretty decent to assemble, once I actually found the correct instructions. The ones in the box are useless. But I came across the original instructions and they were pretty easy from there. As always with double handed weapons, getting both hands on correctly was a bit finicky, but that was to be expected. The models themselves were nice and the moldlines weren't too bad (or my eyes are just getting worse...)

Next up, probably the Sisters.

[Turion Rilyaloce]

Got another few models assembled.

First up, 1 Ishaya Vess.

With that, all character models I have that I currently want to assemble are assembled. For the Dragon I've got a bit conversion in mind. And the IOB mage and griffon prince I already have assembled once. I'll probably do some converting with them as well (once I figure out what I'd want to do with them), or just harvest them for bits...

Next, the unit of WL.

They were pretty decent to assemble, once I actually found the correct instructions. The ones in the box are useless. But I came across the original instructions and they were pretty easy from there. As always with double handed weapons, getting both hands on correctly was a bit finicky, but that was to be expected. The models themselves were nice and the moldlines weren't too bad (or my eyes are just getting worse...)

Next up, probably the Sisters.

Can’t wait to see the dragon conversion!

[Houdini]

Hey Prince,
Great to see you have found time to get into assembling some more models! I really am jealous of the 25 metal Maiden guard you have and can’t wait to see them painted (not sure where they sit on the priority list).

[Prince of Spires]

Can’t wait to see the dragon conversion!

Me neither

I got the idea when I first saw our current plastic dragon model. I want to model him so that he's climbing onto the rock instead of leaping off it. And have him spew dragon fire from his mouth. Something like that. It will likely involve a lot of cutting and hacking and modelling, all the while praying that the thing comes back together again somehow... We'll see. At worst, I'll end up with a very expensive pile of bits...

Hey Prince,
Great to see you have found time to get into assembling some more models! I really am jealous of the 25 metal Maiden guard you have and can’t wait to see them painted (not sure where they sit on the priority list).

Thanks! It's a combination of finding some motivation with the release of TOW and getting some more games in. And the kids being big enough that they don't need constant attention which leaves me having a few moments here and there. That, and realizing that just putting in 5 minutes a day will get me a bunch of models done in a week. So I keep everything where I can pretty much grab a tray with whatever I'm working on, and sit down to glue an arm or a leg to something. Nothing beats steady progress in my experience

I'm also pretty happy with the metal maiden guard and metal Everqueen model I managed to find. It's a little bit a case of getting lucky on ebay to land on an auction most people miss and having someone who just wants to get rid of them without knowing the average price they're going for. That's also how I ended up with the metal LSG (which are great models) and metal PG. Of course, I did get most of them before The End Times, which meant that ebay prices were (sometimes) a bit more reasonable.

The Everqueen I found on https://www.whtreasury.com/, which is one of the best second hand Warhammer sites I've come across. They've got decent prices, a good selection, and they're quick to respond.

[Prince of Spires]

Sisters are also done:



Assembling this one was fairly fast and easy. Only few mould lines that needed to be removed. The rest was hidden in folds on the model. The bows were easier to attach than the axes of the WL, because you glue them directly to both sides of the torso. The WL had 2 separate arms and a separate axe, which made the whole process a lot more fiddly. Also, the different parts were a lot more interchangeable, meaning that any cloak would fit on any torso (as far as I could tell) etc.

One bad / weird thing about the set (though that might have just been the way my specific one was packaged), was that the sprues were divided strangely. It's a set of 2X5 models. The sprues were 2 double ones, and 2 singles (if that makes sense). However, they were cut up in such a way that those 2X5 models were mixed up. One of the doubles contained bits of both sets of 5 models. Which meant that there was a lot of hunt for the correct bit going on.

All in all, fast and fun. I liked them.

Next up, the IOB units (not the characters. I already have them, so the extra mage and griffon prince will end up converted or used for bits or something). They should be even faster if I remember correctly, since they're fairly straightforward one or 2 piece models that require limited cleaning.

[Flame of the Asuryan]

This is definitely an impressive army (and list!). Very impressive to have such a big unit of Maiden Guards, one of the pinnacle units of 6th Edition.

Only 1 Tiranoc, is this the Metal one? During COVID times, I bought 4 metal ones and painted 2. There are still 2 still lying around somewhere. I definitely have a weakness for those.

[Prince of Spires]

Only 1 Tiranoc, is this the Metal one?

No, it's the current plastic one. I've got a picture of it here. I really should get one of the metal ones. They're quite iconic and I do want another one I'm debating between getting another current plastic one (which would also give me a pair of lions to build up), or going for a second hand one. Or maybe both. Once I finish my current set of models, I might just go and be all completionist and try to find a copy of all HE models...

Very impressive to have such a big unit of Maiden Guards, one of the pinnacle units of 6th Edition.

The favorite old models I have are actually the metal archers (picture here). They're less well known than the Maiden Guard, but they just radiate elf for me. They have a lot of personality in what is essentially a simple sculpt. Though I am very proud of the big unit of Maiden Guard as well...

[Flame of the Asuryan]

Oooohw, those archers are great! How do you feel about mixing different styles?

I always really liked those 6th edition models, but I also obtained the high elf book when I was ~11 and I was completely stoked. Nostalgia overload, maybe. At one point, I sold all 5th (unipose spears and bolters) and 7th, 8th models to be left with a +- 6th edition army. I truly enjoy the uniformity of the model lines.

I haven't visited the forum in a while, does your army see play?

[Houdini]

I would be interested to know if the metal Maiden Guard fit/blend in with the newer Sister Models you've now put together. Potentially it'll be too much of a scale and detail mismatch but a combined unit would look really cool thematically!

I hadn't noticed your old archer models in your very early posts, is it only the 9 you have (based on your stocktake)? they look very cool though and I would love to see them all painted up. Could be used nicely in the Sea Guard Garrison?

[Prince of Spires]

Oooohw, those archers are great! How do you feel about mixing different styles?

I kind of like mixing styles really. Partly because I think it's much less of an issue than people think. Yes, when you see a close-up photo of two different models side by side then the difference is pretty obvious. However, that's not how we tend to look at our models. They're generally assembled in units, which makes the differences much less obvious. And they're normally viewed from a few feet away, which means the styles completely fall into the background. A nice example is my LSG units, shown here. I have both the old metal ones, and the IOB models. The IOB models are significantly bigger and have a lot more detail and decorative stuff. However, if you give them the same paint scheme and assemble them in a single unit, they look just fine as a cohesive force. Especially from a distance on the tabletop.

It's also a feature in my army. I've got a range of models, spanning a large time period. I think the metal LSG, archers, and Maiden Guard are probably the oldest I have, together with some characters, all the way up to the recent releases and most models in between. Across such a period, the difference between models is much more gradual than if you take a big jump in time. Or if you only have 1 old unit and the rest new (or vice versa). This is taken further by having each unit in the army having its own color scheme. There are a few common elements across all units (mainly dark red details), but other than that, each unit is fairly distinct in looks (because I'd probably go crazy painting the same color scheme on 300+ models...) It's cohesive because it isn't.

I haven't visited the forum in a while, does your army see play?

It does actually. After the release of TOW, I've managed to get a game in every other month or so. TOW has been good for my hobby motivation and I've had a fair few games. It's fun and I like the system, even though High elves aren't the best if you're not min-maxing.

I would be interested to know if the metal Maiden Guard fit/blend in with the newer Sister Models you've now put together. Potentially it'll be too much of a scale and detail mismatch but a combined unit would look really cool thematically!

I hadn't noticed your old archer models in your very early posts, is it only the 9 you have (based on your stocktake)? they look very cool though and I would love to see them all painted up. Could be used nicely in the Sea Guard Garrison?

The difference between the newer Sisters compared to the old Maiden Guard is noticable. The main issue for me isn't so much the size difference. The newer models look a bit like weightlifters or bodybuilders next to the lithe and elegant older models.

Also, they're wielding very different weapons, which makes them look a bit odd next to each other. Though it must be said that I think when painted up in a similar scheme and viewed from a distance, they should fit just fine alongside one another.

Incidentally, they're perfectly fine when placed next to the Handmaiden of the Everqueen.

The Handmaiden is ever so slightly taller. But the two models share a clear ancestry and they would look great in a single unit.

I'm not sure yet what I'll do with the 9 metal archers (I only have 9 indeed...). I'm not a big fan of the Sea Guard Garrison list, but they could play a role there. Or just be used as regular archers. Or maybe even as Shadow Warriors if I want a big unit of those

[Prince of Spires]

The Island of Blood models are assembled.

Swordmasters

Did some minimal kit-bashing on these, since I didn't want or need another set of command. I already have 2 full sets of command for 25 models, and I think that's plenty. I doubt I'll take command on units smaller than 10, and at least if I want a champion, I can use one of them for that purpose. And at worst, they can borrow a banner or musician from another unit.

The set itself is great. Minimal mould line cleaning is needed because most of it is hidden in the armour, helmet or hair of the models. They're also single pose for the most part, which means no trying to hold for different bits as your glue sets at the same time.

Lothern Seaguard

Same thing here really. Removed the command models with some simple kitbashing. Perhaps not my best conversion, but good enough for a core unit. Fortunately, after assembling almost 300 models, I have plenty of spare bits lying around. And yes, I've saved all the extra bits and even sorted them in different categories for simple search.

Also an easy set to assemble, though they had more flat surfaces, which means more mould line removal. Also, there were some fiddly bits which attached to the sprue which were very hard to remove from the sprue without breaking them. So if you look closely, you'll see some missing stuff sticking out on the spears especially.

Reavers

Same as the other two really. Though being cavalry they came in a few parts, so they took a bit more time. But still pretty fast by GW standards. Also, I left the champion as is. I doubt I'll ever use him as a champion, but he doesn't stand out too much as one. He's just one of the guys charging in (probably one of the blind ones, so he doesn't bother with his bow)...

They almost look like a mini-army


While working on them, I also came across a model hiding away in a box.

I thought I'd either miscounted earlier, or I'd lost her. But she'd been added back to the list... There's no escape

Next up the Repeater Bolt Thrower. Just 2 models left before we get into conversion territory (the Flamespire is the other one)*... And I think I just might start painting stuff first before starting on the bigger projects (and to get back to more models finished than either in progress or to still in box...). Looking forward to it. I'm not sure yet what to start with. Maybe the 2 Shadow Warriors (and potentially Alith Anar since he'll have roughly the same paint scheme), just to get a quick finish. What do you guys think?

*and the unit of 13 spear elves, but I don't really feel like assembling them (I've got plenty at the moment), and they'll probably form the basis of several conversions that may or may not happen in the future. For instance, I think I need at least 1 mini for the Skycutter RBT conversion I've got in mind...

[Flame of the Asuryan]

Which edition of WH do you play?

I am looking forward how you paint the metal bolt thrower. I own like 4 of those, it is quite the sight to see them on the table top. I never liked the 2nd last metal bolter.

[Prince of Spires]

At the moment I'm playing the Old World. I've also played both 7th and 8th edition.

I find that TOW rules are fine for casual play. They really feel like a bunch of fans hoor together at GW HQ and decided to create rules for fantasy during their lunch break. Not perfect by any means, but fun.

The bolt throwers sound like a good choice was well. The metal one i have is the one that looks similar to the current plastic one, not the one with the 6 bolt battery on top. I like it. Its flavorful and judging from ebay a bit more rare than the other metal one

[Prince of Spires]

Got the Repeater Bolt Thrower done



Decided to add a base while I was working on it (I had an older, base-less one...). A fast and simple build. The kit does show its age (I think it's 20-ish years old). The sprue was a lot less packed than modern ones are. They could currently probably fit it on half the sprues if they remade it. Also some very big and obvious mould lines, so it required a fair bit of cleaning. Only a few parts though, so not too much work.

[Flame of the Asuryan]

I really liked the single bolt option in the plastic one. If only the metals had that...

[Houdini]

The difference between the newer Sisters compared to the old Maiden Guard is noticable. The main issue for me isn't so much the size difference. The newer models look a bit like weightlifters or bodybuilders next to the lithe and elegant older models.

Thanks for the comparison picture. Certainly a noticeable difference between the two miniatures. I guess I was somewhat hopeful, though I don’t know if I could afford some of the old maiden guard models so maybe this is a good thing