Now On Radio 4, The Archers

Finally, I add some more Core troops to my Wood Elf army (spoiler alert: they're the kind that go twang!).

Quite a lot of models (by my standards), and they should probably be separated into two units to be effective - but it's Sunday, so let's have an Archers Omnibus!

"Pum pa-pum pa-pum pa-pum!"

These date back to my original Wood Elf army, c.1999. Despite having a pretty good selection of archers available, I had a specific look in mind: long cloaks, long tunic, and swords only for the leaders. And I wanted them to be uniform.

Although being elves, they wouldn't call it a uniform.
They'd call it 'raiment' or something.

The model on the left represents my earliest attempt at greenstuff sculpting (his tunic ended at his belt, so I extended it - mad sculpting skills right there).

There were two kinds of archers: standing straight and leaning forward.

The colour scheme was based on the Warhammer Quest image of an Elf: golden yellow tunic, navy blue boots and gloves, dark green cloaks (I drew the line at a red bow).

I assume his right leg is standing on something, not performing a crazy battle jig.

The growth of these Glade Guards was unconventional: it began as a unit of 9, just archers and a guy with a sword as the champion. I then added another unit (the leaning forward one), also composed of 9 guys, including a leader.

This was before the unit minimums of 10, and when I was theming the army units along multiples of 3. I can't remember why, but it was around the time of Babylon 5 and I was influenced by the Minbari - who were very much Space Elves - and their love of multiples of 3.

By the time I needed to update them for 6th Ed (and their glorious WoffBoot II win), musicians had suddenly become useful and I needed ten models, so I bought a horn blower for each of them.

I like the champion model because he's the only one not standing entirely flat.
He also looks a bit like Sid James.

Painting recipe as follows (and as far as I can remember):

• Tunics and bows: Golden Yellow, Thinned-Brown Ink wash, Golden Yellow wetbrush
• Cloaks: Dark Angels Green
• Boots and Gloves: Regal Blue
• Trousers: I don't remember - it was some blue paint I borrowed off Leofa. Not having access to it any more, I mixed an approximate with Regal Blue, White Scar and Nuln Oil.
• Gems: another borrowed colour - I think it was Scaly Green. I replaced it with Kalabite Green.

And the reason it's important to record your colour schemes is because, after 16 years, I decided they needed to have a standard bearer. Despite the fact that I'll probably never field one, it looks nice and gives me a whole unit of 21 (oooh - another multiple of 3!)

Proof that my painting has not advanced in 16 years.

Plastic banner bits were purloined off a High Elves sprue. The 'star' was painted with washes of Green Ink and Agrax Earthshade, followed by a Mithril Silver drybrush.

All done, and ready to stock up on Trueflight Arrows...

"If we're in three ranks, don't we need Martial Prowess?"
"I've told you before Dennis - WE'RE NOT JOINING THE ETERNITY KING!"