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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Evil Dave on July 15, 2025, 02:33:02 AM

Title: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Crossbows
Post by: Evil Dave on July 15, 2025, 02:33:02 AM: Buddy Karl was talking 3mm fantasy so we held each other's hand and drove off that cliff Thelma and Louise style. I picked up the Dread Elves from Microworld Games and started messing around with a classic Warhammer Fantasy Dark Elf scheme. We're going to base them on 40mm frontage bases for Triumph! to play some Grand Triumph! Fantasy. The massed troops on the bases should help sell the look, and the 3mm troops make for an excellent bargain for the number of bases we'll need.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0bayR3Ly4BDlFlEzmM89f0vfCng0vlBcvM1D1svCsyXv5XHegeRJZ5gyG6fm0dYAIS73S218OfsvXvtf8KeOUDT4ztR_ky8s57wdu9SrFiMAFKMTbHI4WlcX_eKIXa7OXLRkSj4oH1ZPxP1xNWo3-bPdP1EgEmaPhE43bavSR1nk15KfTNJuSFCURZo5/s640/IMG_0016.JPG) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0bayR3Ly4BDlFlEzmM89f0vfCng0vlBcvM1D1svCsyXv5XHegeRJZ5gyG6fm0dYAIS73S218OfsvXvtf8KeOUDT4ztR_ky8s57wdu9SrFiMAFKMTbHI4WlcX_eKIXa7OXLRkSj4oH1ZPxP1xNWo3-bPdP1EgEmaPhE43bavSR1nk15KfTNJuSFCURZo5/s0/IMG_0016.JPG)

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SWKMmm8-Cu6QrQzfCl9Z1Id3iUCj2yN82q3P9-OGJB0ED06auU04X9ONG3vzU5M3dXAyLbW5bLl_gGf0MsoCYwKyFCImlZWkDqqT72VEn0mTQWUx4SVDPzcIbDEz1qtHCeoklRXocPJ9JZTI0dSgCzATslXqcfRrhGbR9RHVTY2PcC2mW64q48Win2fK/s640/IMG_0017.JPG) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SWKMmm8-Cu6QrQzfCl9Z1Id3iUCj2yN82q3P9-OGJB0ED06auU04X9ONG3vzU5M3dXAyLbW5bLl_gGf0MsoCYwKyFCImlZWkDqqT72VEn0mTQWUx4SVDPzcIbDEz1qtHCeoklRXocPJ9JZTI0dSgCzATslXqcfRrhGbR9RHVTY2PcC2mW64q48Win2fK/s0/IMG_0017.JPG)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Figuring out a paint scheme
Post by: LouieN on July 15, 2025, 05:34:49 AM: yeah wow. The cloaks are very subtle.
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Figuring out a paint scheme
Post by: Evil Dave on July 17, 2025, 02:33:36 AM: I finished up my test unit of 3mm Dread Elves. Getting the flock between the strips wasn't too bad, I was thinking I might have to base one row at a time but I don't think that will be necessary. The base is printed, I made three grooves along its length to recess the strips. Not sure if I'm going to put a decal on the banner yet. Definitely not doing decals on the shields or pins for the spears this time though. :P

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgtyna5qtFg6pvCXn6ioVVxn69zIA276CvSUqE1rUiSlr_28Sb5y43FcgA7wSr1TdgqSFCEomxUVPv6Drhb9hbuozSB2mpI7COgE_Ieb7zgmDyUSOfSOBspQWJslxxjn1nfz_6A9xFrlVqBmhlHHGN8avsUyy3Zos8qeSIi4QFCOtQCvM8PphdxKGZ-_i/s640/IMG_0018.JPG) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgtyna5qtFg6pvCXn6ioVVxn69zIA276CvSUqE1rUiSlr_28Sb5y43FcgA7wSr1TdgqSFCEomxUVPv6Drhb9hbuozSB2mpI7COgE_Ieb7zgmDyUSOfSOBspQWJslxxjn1nfz_6A9xFrlVqBmhlHHGN8avsUyy3Zos8qeSIi4QFCOtQCvM8PphdxKGZ-_i/s0/IMG_0018.JPG)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Figuring out a paint scheme
Post by: Kelly_ on July 17, 2025, 05:41:59 PM: Good job on those! How did you pick your ground cover for that scale, and what adhesive did you use? (Asking for a friend... I definitely have not put off flocking my 10s for years, much less the 6s or 3s projects)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Figuring out a paint scheme
Post by: Evil Dave on July 17, 2025, 05:58:21 PM: Mostly experimentation with what's out there. These are the Javis fine turfs (JFT1-3). They're fine saw dusts. I've tried fine foam too, but that always seems to go on too thin. And then a second coat doesn't make it look good in my opinion. To stick it on there I use a waterproof woodglue (Titebond III).

I'll hit it with a topcoat but I'm betting the colors will fade with age. If the color stays, great, if not, that's a problem for future Evil Dave.
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Evil Dave on July 31, 2025, 02:27:27 AM: I'm currently basing up some 6mm American Civil War Union Skirmishers, but in the meantime here's some 3mm Dark Elves I finished last week and based today.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPFLEOslJ-_mdTEe8b3DUK1_jfXaqPnkq2jbvg9atZ3fNLnHNvDL6Tdln6eIEnxTCzcvkPqLMwTCZewF1_Js_OoABRdlbWqNL2vCdiuf-g_VVm2HSEsWpC9LYPqOE5DDWSYXqIqkOOvNhFfvBcHyzqNqjJQ9FsLiN1Dnn0j7FfFNuGMf9SpsTf3gjsC90/s640/IMG_0019.JPG) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPFLEOslJ-_mdTEe8b3DUK1_jfXaqPnkq2jbvg9atZ3fNLnHNvDL6Tdln6eIEnxTCzcvkPqLMwTCZewF1_Js_OoABRdlbWqNL2vCdiuf-g_VVm2HSEsWpC9LYPqOE5DDWSYXqIqkOOvNhFfvBcHyzqNqjJQ9FsLiN1Dnn0j7FfFNuGMf9SpsTf3gjsC90/s0/IMG_0019.JPG)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Ray Rivers on July 31, 2025, 08:18:43 AM: It is amazing how much detail they can put on 3mm miniatures nowadays! o_o

Yours look great! :-*
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Frugalmax on July 31, 2025, 06:54:36 PM: Wow! Great work!
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Major_Gilbear on July 31, 2025, 10:01:35 PM: Wow, that is impressive for 3mm! :o
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Kelly_ on August 01, 2025, 04:45:15 AM: They look even better ranked up! How many total units are you going to be putting together for this project?

(I did spend an inordinate amount of time browsing Microworld after seeing how well these were done, but so far have resisted the temptation to start another small scale.)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Evil Dave on August 01, 2025, 08:50:42 PM: Thanks guys.

Kelly, I got an army pack and a half. With how I'm basing them that works out to 4 stands of each unit type. Chariots and archers I stretched to 6 and bolt throwers condensed to 3. I also bought another pack and a half of spear to bring them up to 8. So around 55 stands I think.
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Spears
Post by: Evil Dave on August 08, 2025, 09:54:27 PM: Finished the last four units of the 3mm Dread Elf Spears this week.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm6mav30filzKrfP0kYytrmxXbWxMufx2AFzGm5nSBGBRWgNhXQMPPKGBw3DH1Qg-yD87IVqzfn8nnpVLoAQ5sfp3_5MdO0ChF_V-PYFaxvn5N1x2FC7mLnAUK7cC3FcbRDy92Urb-Fxh1R0Lo99BspO4IQYP66hXEilQL921CRMygPikKJujzaGm4ux_/s640/IMG_0020.JPG) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm6mav30filzKrfP0kYytrmxXbWxMufx2AFzGm5nSBGBRWgNhXQMPPKGBw3DH1Qg-yD87IVqzfn8nnpVLoAQ5sfp3_5MdO0ChF_V-PYFaxvn5N1x2FC7mLnAUK7cC3FcbRDy92Urb-Fxh1R0Lo99BspO4IQYP66hXEilQL921CRMygPikKJujzaGm4ux_/s0/IMG_0020.JPG)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Crossbows
Post by: Evil Dave on August 16, 2025, 12:26:33 AM: Figuring out how to paint the crossbows next. There's a bit more percision painting on these compared to the spears because of all the bits off the crossbow that I'm hitting.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNkdWCKr4sxz4oKx4yvjUPm9KM0hh9KXUhBgvFV9IuCk-4jeiTtqUPvUx57d8sANRl4PfeEHaquP8uaETZG0E8SPTxNNW_PETO4oVboMDZTGFcID3WLJxq9sAzCao0CpaDfcka2pCn9ehvartz99C80dzZfwWpU85dpahBlA5D3YL-B7KpjrLfcLJrC84/s640/IMG_0021.JPG) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNkdWCKr4sxz4oKx4yvjUPm9KM0hh9KXUhBgvFV9IuCk-4jeiTtqUPvUx57d8sANRl4PfeEHaquP8uaETZG0E8SPTxNNW_PETO4oVboMDZTGFcID3WLJxq9sAzCao0CpaDfcka2pCn9ehvartz99C80dzZfwWpU85dpahBlA5D3YL-B7KpjrLfcLJrC84/s0/IMG_0021.JPG)
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Crossbows
Post by: pixelgeek on August 16, 2025, 12:42:19 AM: Such impressive work
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Crossbows
Post by: Ray Rivers on August 16, 2025, 04:40:41 AM: Yikes! :o

So you are going for a major league army!

How cool! :-*
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Crossbows
Post by: Evil Dave on August 18, 2025, 12:16:27 AM: Thanks guys.

Ray, ya, Grand Triumph is 3 regular armies. I think I'm floating around 48 stands once everything is said and done. Still a rather small stand count, relatively speaking. They're elves, so all my unit types are on the elite side of the spectrum. If I was doing Undead I could see the stand count being in the 80s.
Title: Re: Evil Dave's 3mm Dread Elves: Crossbows
Post by: Ray Rivers on August 18, 2025, 02:23:43 AM: Still... 48 stands is nothing to sneeze at.

It's remarkable how the quality in small figures has grown. When I entered into the hobby, 5 decades ago, I did some ACW dudes in 6mm. They were like little blobs with a head, 2 legs and a rifle. I threw those minis away after a time.

I really wish we had the same quality of sculpts that we have today when I started.

Once again, your elves look awesome, as do your ACW troops. :-*