Sepulchral Guard

Posted on 06/04/2020 by sho3box
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Seven skeletons painted primarily for Warhammer Underworlds, but really to be used in any game where I want to get my Harryhausen on.

These lovely figures got painted due to a confluence of loosely connected reasons.
I want to work on terrain that will be based in a partially ruined city in places overrun by undead, previously known for it’s halfling quarter and associated confectionery: “Batinburg”.

WhiskeyPriest from The Leadpile suggested that the coat of arms for the town should be the pink and yellowish cream of the associated cake, so I wanted to try that.

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“This is our big break Melvin, don’t screw it up!”

I decided to try the basics of that coat of arms out on the shields on a pair of Mantic skeletons. I have gathered up a number of these over the years and as of quite recently been very interested in trying to paint them using Contrast paints and some other speedy, rough and ready methods.

So I did that with two of them, shown above. Very fast, lots of fun.

Opinions on the Mantic skeleton sculpts vary more than I was expecting, but I recommend them highly. They are great.

They reminded me that I also had some other, at least equally great skeleton models that could do with being painted, so I dug out the Warhammer Underworlds Sepulchral Guard and got stuck into them with the same enthusiasm.

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L to R: three Sepulchral Guard Petitioners, two Mantic Skeletons

Like the photos in this post (which are particularly dodgy today. I’ll do better next time) the paint jobs on these were fast and lazy, but I think that I got away with it.

My emphasis at the moment is to try to get projects finished to adequate levels and ready for the tabletop, rather than to have them technically high quality, as I find that I enjoy painting more that way… and I really enjoyed painting these.

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L to R: Prince of Dust, The Harvester, The Champion and The Sepulchral Warden.

Honestly, I should probably take better photos of these and do them a few favours, as I’m not really flattering them… but I’m not going to. They look decent on the table, and you will just have to trust me on that.

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Byron Maiden, Purifier of Batinburg takes on the gutless remains of the city’s former defenders in the outskirts of Mourning Wood.

Something similar up next. Probably. I’ll take better photos. Probably.

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28 Responses

  1. jherazob, on 06/04/2020 at 21:30 said:

    Byron Maiden: Maybe. Just maybe my boys can protect the book. Yeah, and maybe I’m a Chinese jet pilot.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  2. Andrew Boswell, on 06/04/2020 at 21:53 said:

    These are brilliant, Paul!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. Allison B. Mackay, on 06/04/2020 at 23:00 said:

    The two companies’ figures fit together very well here, I have to say, no weird height discrepancies or different sculpting styles. Your “tabletop” paint jobs frustrate me to look at, I won’t lie: they’re very good! I do think everything you did here works well: the variety of characters, and the colours including the pink/yellow shields. Lowly skeletons don’t have to be a dull mess!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 07/04/2020 at 18:29 said:

      There is zero reason for my paint jobs to frustrate you Allison, yours are at least their equal.

      the miniatures from the two manufacturers do fit together pretty well, but y’know, I fully intend to add some of the bony brutes from HeroQuest alongside them at some point too. To put it in terms already alluded to in this comments section, the Mantic figs and the Sepulchral Guard are rod puppets and props, while the HeroQuest skeletons are men dressed in skeleton suits.

      I’m glad that you like the way that they turned out. I will have to get some better photos though…

      Liked by 2 people

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  4. Mikko, on 06/04/2020 at 23:48 said:

    Great work yet again, and those really are some nice sculpts!

    Liked by 3 people

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    • sho3box, on 07/04/2020 at 18:32 said:

      Thanks Mikko!

      The Mantic undead range was always solid. Considering that the figs are ~ten years old now, they stand up even better.

      The Sepulchral Guard are a step or two above that of course, but all of them give me the specific feeling of a mix of horror and comedy that I want from skeletons.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  5. imperialrebelork, on 07/04/2020 at 08:12 said:

    Really nice work

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  6. Alex, on 07/04/2020 at 08:43 said:

    Superb mate – these skellibobs really do lend themselves beautifully to a loose painting style, and they are none the worse for it! Love the coat of arms… that’s a colour combination that evokes childhood, parties and sweet things 🤩

    Liked by 3 people

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    • sho3box, on 07/04/2020 at 18:35 said:

      Working on all of them was a pleasant experience from start to finish. I’m looking forward to painting a few more at some not too distant point.
      Thanks for the feedback Alex!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  7. Azazel, on 07/04/2020 at 13:33 said:

    They do really look great to me, I particularly like the burnt/decayed look on the blackened cloaks, but even the pink and ochre work very nicely together and with the skellies. Never thought I’d be approving of such a scheme for undead, but there you go!

    Liked by 3 people

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    • sho3box, on 07/04/2020 at 18:37 said:

      I certainly wouldn’t have considered those colours normally, but I was sort of compelled to do it by circumstances. The rest of the scheme was experimenting with fast Citadel Contrast base coats, some layering/edge highlighting and using dirt/weathering to cover up anything that looked too sloppy.

      It was fun. I definitely learned a few things. Thanks for the feedback Azazel!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  8. airbornegrove26, on 07/04/2020 at 20:47 said:

    Looks like an army is developing. 😉

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  9. Suber, on 08/04/2020 at 00:12 said:

    I love them! My thoughts on these are quite close to your own approach, i.e. using them for Underworlds, but keeping them ready to whatever other skellie thing pops up. The palette you used is particularly effective, I have to say. Nice work!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 08/04/2020 at 10:32 said:

      Thanks Suber!

      I try to get as much utility out of my models as possible. I suspect that these skellies might be used in Warcry or Rangers of Shadowdeep before they actually get played in Underworlds for example.

      That said, while playing games is always the goal that I work towards, I have got my moneys worth out of these models at this stage. Everything from here on is gravy 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  10. Mark A. Morin, on 13/04/2020 at 16:21 said:

    These are excellent and would grace any tabletop! As much as undead and grace go together that is!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • sho3box, on 23/04/2020 at 08:49 said:

      They do the trick I think Mark, and are suitable for all sorts of games, which I get a kick out of.

      Hopefully they will be smashed to pieces – ideally with a bowling “strike” sound – by many opponents in years to come.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  11. Captain Crooks, on 23/04/2020 at 12:02 said:

    Skeletons are the great levelers. Rich or poor, old or young, everyone has one, and one day we’ll all be one. Unless you’re cremated. Or dissolved. Or… disintegrated somehow. Then you will escape the tyranny of our bone overlords! Our Boneverlords! Our… Bonerlords? I don’t know where I was going with this. Nice minis mate.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • sho3box, on 23/04/2020 at 13:01 said:

      Thanks Captain!
      There is an entire AoS army of bonerlords now, suitable for young and old. They are nice, but as I have a Necron army already, I will stick with traditional Harryhausen style skeletons for fantasy I think.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • jherazob, on 23/04/2020 at 13:24 said:

        What, am i 12 now? Still chuckling at “army of bonerlords”. Still, i love skelly armies and am building my Necrons, but for some reason the Ossiarch don’t compel me in the slightest, no idea what’s up with that.

        Liked by 1 person

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        • sho3box, on 23/04/2020 at 13:58 said:

          In addition to lowbrow silly names for miniatures, I also like the Ossiarchs. Some interesting ideas in the designs.

          I have many other projects to work on before I get to that point though.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  12. Thorns of the Briar Queen | sho3box, on 23/04/2020 at 12:11 said:

    […] Sepulchral Guard […]

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