The Challenge: Help me design TWO armies using only what is below, with no extra purchases except possibly a box of guardians or the swaps indicated at the bottom.
I bought a large army of Eldar on ebay for more than I could really afford but nevertheless an insanely good deal. In order to pay for my investment I am painting up then selling half my troops. However its no use painting up half my army to resell if noone would want it. So I might have to auction off individual units instead. I have a lot of stuff at the moment let me give you a complete list so you can see the complete picture.
Modelling is my strong suit, I paint well but very, very slowly. So I am not looking to make any form of profit from this, I am looking to recover my investment, thereby getting a free or nearly free army at the expense of painting time.
HQ UNITS
All the seers I will keep will be modelled as mages, with bare heads and high back collars. Any ghost helms etc I will claim artistic licence for, after all you can't shoot at a helmetless marine character and say he has no armour save. Reason: I don't like the helmets, with exception for Eldrads. Those to go will all have the normal helms, I am not imposing my opinion on anyone else that way. Besides this help as the severed helms are used to convert jetbike riding warlocks/farseers 'to go'.
Eldrad - Converted as my army Farseer, no sword "i find your lack of faith disturbing" pose. He will probably keep the helmet.
Eldrad (in blister)
Bug-eye Farseer - Converted as a mage warlock with bare head.
Farseer on jetbike - Converted using bug-eye helm.
Farseer on jetbike - My conversion with Eldrad sword and 'mage' head.
Warlock on jetbike - Converted using warlock helm.
Warlock on jetbike - Bare headed.
Unconverted warlock.
Warlock (in blister)
Avatar
ASPECT WARRIORS
Maugan Ra (in blister)
New Dark reaper exarch (in blister)
9 old Dark Reapers and exarch.
4 Warp spiders (plus one in blister).
5 new Howling Banshees inc exarch.
10 old Howling Banshees inc exarch.
14 old Dire Avengers inc exarch.
8 old Fire Dragons inc exarch. - I converted the old Fire Dragon exarch to have a slighly shorter pike, its still a firepike, but he no longer looks ridiculous when placed in the unit.
New Fire Dragon exarch.
13 old Swooping hawks inc exarch with Hawks Talon.
6 old Striking Scorpions inc exarch.
GUARDIANS
I have enough swords and pistols for 9 storm Guardians, plus enough fusion guns and flamers for any combination up to three squads of 5. I am strongly in favour of several small squads of Storm Guardians with two special weapons anyway.
36 new plastic Guardians four are assembled.
3 heavy weapons platforms with only three old style (yuk) crew between them. I will need to convert guardians for the job.
8 Rangers
I will need to get a box of guardians. Maybe two.
JETBIKES
4 Shining Spears inc exarch. - I will be keeping these, few other people like them.
12 (
new plastic jetbikes including one shuriken cannon (four taken up by seers)
4 old jetbikes including one shuriken cannon.
2 Vypers
HEAVY SUPPORT
2 Fire Prisms - unassembled
1 Falcon - unassembled
2 War walkers
D-Cannon
Shadow weaver
Vibro Cannon
Heavy weapons belonging to the above, none fixed so far.
3 plastic scatter lasers
3 old metal scatter lasers
2 plastic shuriken cannon
2 bright lances
2 old starcannon
The unopened blister are in prime condition and so can be exchanged at GW for similar priced units under their swap policy (in UK retail). No receipts required to allow for gifts etc. That is my plan for Maugan Ra, the second Eldrad and the Dark Reaper exarch. I plan to get a wraithlord instead and maybe more howling Banshees or Fire Dragons, or a fourth heavy weapons pack.
Out of all this I need TWO armies. Or my army and bits to go seperately.
My army will include the converted mage seers, the Shining Spears, the Striking Scorpions and the new Howling Banshees for definate. Plus two tanks the Vypers and the War walkers. Everything else is optional, though I already have a list I will 'surrender' it to open myself to your assessments. Though I have a tendency to like the heavy support choices because I like the models. My army must fit two detachments of Vanilla eldar. The rest are being painted as Biel-Tan, though only the Dire Avengers are painted at the moment so this can change.
This entire army cost me £221 grosse, mainly on ebay in two auctions. The Vypers and two tanks I bought in the second auction nib for my own forces. The only shop purchased miniature is the fifth Warp Spider, it cost me nearly as much as the Vyper did! I am looking to recover my costs on the army/bits to go. That will be enough for me. I see this happening as a well painted and good looking themed army. Unless you know better.
Your comments MOST appreciated.